Worst air pollution Charleston, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Charleston is fair. AQI, PM2.5, NO2, and O3 are fair; PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (NO2: 32.8/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Charleston is fair. AQI improves to medium; NO2 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 1:00 AM (NO2: 41.6/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Charleston's air quality reflects the Kanawha River valley's severe topographic enclosure between the surrounding Appalachian ridgelines, with the region's legacy chemical manufacturing corridor — long known as Chemical Valley — contributing elevated industrial VOCs and PM2.5 alongside vehicle traffic on I-64 and I-77. Winter temperature inversions can trap industrial and vehicle emissions in the valley for extended periods, while summer ozone from the naturally high biogenic Appalachian VOC emissions is a secondary warm-season concern.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Fair
32.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
24.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
13.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
32.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
32.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
7.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
16.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 01:00
AQI:
Medium
41.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
24.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
14.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
41.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
34.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
6.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
17.4/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Charleston right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Charleston is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 32.8/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (NO2: 32.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Charleston?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Charleston will be similar to today, with O3 forecast at fair at 34.6/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 AM (NO2: 41.6/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Charleston?
Air quality across Charleston rises and falls with the seasons. In short, once summer humidity fades, winter typically offers the most consistently clean air, whereas long, hot, humid summers bring the year's worst ozone readings. Prescribed burns are more common in the cooler months and can add brief smoke episodes.
Are air quality levels in Charleston based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app