Virginia Beach Air Quality in 2023
In 2023, Virginia Beach's air quality (Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC area) had a median daily AQI of 44 (Good) across 365 monitored days. 3 days (0.8%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 229 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 174 (Unhealthy). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 236 of those days. The cleanest month of 2023 was October (median AQI 34, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 61, 3 days above 100, peak 174).
- Good: 62.7%
- Moderate: 36.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.3%
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How was Virginia Beach's air quality in 2023?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 44, with 3 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 7th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2023: 174 (Unhealthy).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 236 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: October; worst: June.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Virginia Beach in 2023?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Virginia Beach's (Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC) median daily AQI for 2023 at 44, which is Good. 3 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 174.
Which month had the worst air quality in Virginia Beach in 2023?▾
The cleanest month of 2023 was October (median AQI 34, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 61, 3 days above 100, peak 174).
Was 2023 a good or bad year for Virginia Beach's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2023 ranks 7th cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the worst year on record here. 2023's median of 44 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 42.
Virginia Beach month by month in 2023
Virginia Beach air quality month by month, 2023 (Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 40 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| February | 28 | 39 | 0 | 59 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 43 | 0 | 70 | O3 |
| April | 30 | 46 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 46 | 0 | 74 | O3 |
| Juneworst | 30 | 61 | 3 | 174 | PM2.5 |
| July | 31 | 52 | 0 | 98 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 49 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 42 | 0 | 74 | O3 |
| Octobercleanest | 31 | 34 | 0 | 70 | O3 |
| November | 30 | 40 | 0 | 73 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 42 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
How 2023 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2023 ranks 7th cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the worst year on record here.
2023's median of 44 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 42.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Virginia Beach
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Virginia Beach's AQI at 44 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Virginia Beach air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC), 2019–2025. Daily AQI per CBSA is the highest AQI reported by any monitor in the area that day; the defining parameter is the pollutant that set it. Month and season statistics pool every such day in the period across all years listed. Retrieved 2026-09-09.