Mitchell, North Carolina Air Quality
Mitchell County, North Carolina (NC)
↓ Improvingover 10 years
10-Year AQI Trend
The solid line shows the median AQI each year. The dashed line shows the 90th percentile (worst 10% of days). This area has seen measurable air quality improvement over the decade.
Air Quality Day Breakdown
Number of days per year in each EPA AQI category. Green = Good (AQI 0-50), Yellow = Moderate (51-100), Orange = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Red = Unhealthy or worse (151+).
Year-by-Year Data
| Year | Median AQI | 90th Pct | Max AQI | Good Days | Moderate | Unhealthy+ | Pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 33 | 55 | 104 | 281 | 71 | 1 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 53 | 69 | 298 | 48 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 53 | 82 | 296 | 60 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 26 | 48 | 103 | 328 | 27 | 1 | PM2.5 |
| 2019 | 29 | 52 | 63 | 290 | 43 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2018 | 27 | 54 | 80 | 287 | 68 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2017 | 34 | 55 | 93 | 266 | 72 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2016 | 37 | 57 | 162 | 172 | 56 | 4 | PM2.5 |
| 2015 | 39 | 56 | 63 | 88 | 32 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2014 | 42 | 57 | 69 | 79 | 41 | 0 | PM2.5 |
What This Means for Mitchell County Residents
Mitchell, North Carolina has received an Air Quality Grade of B (78/100) based on a decade of EPA monitoring data. The current median AQI of 33 falls in the "Good" range.
Encouragingly, air quality here has been improving, with the median AQI dropping by 9 points over the monitoring period. This trend suggests continued investment in emission controls and cleaner energy.
The primary pollutant affecting this area is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). Over the past 5 years, this area has averaged 0 unhealthy air quality days per year — days when sensitive groups (children, elderly, those with respiratory conditions) should limit outdoor activity.