Outdoor
Consider keeping outdoor activity lighter until conditions improve.
Why: AQI or pollutant levels are elevated, so this guidance is more cautious.
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Charlotte air quality today
Consider keeping outdoor activity lighter until conditions improve.
Data: Hourly Open-Meteo model estimateThe latest update is older than expected, so this page is showing an estimate for the current hour.Detailed metrics and guidance use the latest available detailed data.
Practical guidance
Running
A lighter indoor option may be more comfortable today.
Why: Air quality indicators are elevated, so the running guidance is more cautious.
Ventilation
Consider waiting before longer ventilation.
Why: AQI or pollutant levels are elevated, so longer ventilation may be better later.
Air quality and outdoor metrics
US AQI
Air Quality Index
103
Poor
PM2.5
Fine particulate matter
10.6µg/m³
Moderate
PM10
Coarse particulate matter
10.9µg/m³
Low
NO₂
Nitrogen dioxide
5µg/m³
Low
O₃
Ozone
96µg/m³
Moderate
UV index
Sun exposure level
0
Low
Temperature
Air temperature
28°C
Warm
Feels like
Apparent temperature
31°C
Hot
Wind
Wind speed
3km/h
Light
Humidity
Relative humidity
58%
Comfortable
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Disclaimer
This information is a general estimate only and is not medical advice.
Location
Charlotte, United States
Coordinates: 35.2271, -80.8431 · America/New_York
Interpret AQI for outdoor activity
Calculic's European AQI calculator assesses the value using your population group and planned activity intensity.
Interpret AQI in CalculicThis page's European AQI value, city and timestamp are passed to the calculator through the link.
What affects air quality in Charlotte
Mecklenburg County locates its University Meadows ozone station northeast of central Charlotte along the summer southwest-to-northeast wind direction that crosses the central business district.
This explains a local ozone-monitoring siting factor, not a current ozone level or a claim about every part of Charlotte.
Local monitoring and context
Mecklenburg County's Remount station near Interstate 77 in Charlotte measures PM2.5, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide to characterize pollution near heavily traveled roads.
This is the official station's roadway-monitoring context, not a citywide average or the provider of this page's current data.
City air quality FAQ
How should I read the AQI for Charlotte?
US AQI condenses air quality into one value. On this page, it helps you quickly judge whether conditions look good, moderate or more polluted than usual.
Is the air quality good for going outside?
Check the outdoor and running cards first. They combine AQI, particles, ozone, weather and other factors that can affect outdoor comfort.
Should I ventilate right now?
The ventilation card considers AQI and pollutants such as particles, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. If values are elevated, a shorter opening or a later moment may be better.
Why can air quality change during the day?
Weather, emissions, ozone formation, particles and air flow can shift local conditions, so the next hours can differ from the current reading.
Sources and methodology
Current data
This page uses US AQI.
Current and hourly air-quality values are CAMS-based model estimates, not measurements from a local monitoring station. They may not reflect street-level conditions.
- Displayed state
- This hour's model estimate
- Data time
- 5 Sept 2026, 09:00 pm
- Data source
- Open-Meteo
The latest update is older than expected, so this page is showing an estimate for the current hour.
Detailed metrics and guidance use the latest available detailed data.
Evergreen city statements
Each local statement is linked to a checked primary-authority source. A source check is editorial provenance and does not describe current-data freshness.
Local sources support the background claims below; they are not the source of the current data shown above unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Authoritative sources for local statements
Monitoring Stations
Mecklenburg County Air Quality
- Scope
- Mecklenburg County
- Source checked
- 31 Aug 2026
University Meadows is oriented along the summer southwest-to-northeast wind vector crossing central Charlotte. Remount near I-77 measures PM2.5, CO and NO2 for the heavily traveled roadway environment.
Applicability: Official local or regional background only; not current conditions, citywide uniformity, regulatory attainment or this site's current-data provenance.
Based on this source: Mecklenburg County locates its University Meadows ozone station northeast of central Charlotte along the summer southwest-to-northeast wind direction that crosses the central business district.
Mecklenburg County's Remount station near Interstate 77 in Charlotte measures PM2.5, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide to characterize pollution near heavily traveled roads.