Median AQI
37
Good
Washington · County air quality · 2025
Columbia County, Washington
Median AQI 37 (Good). 93.0% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 37
- Median AQI
- 93.0%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 83%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Columbia County's air is good on balance, cleaner than most US counties, a median AQI of 37 with 93.0% of 243 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 37
- median AQI · Good
- 93.0%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 83%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 68.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 226 d · 93.0%
- Moderate · 17 d · 7.0%
How did Columbia County's air break down in 2025?
Across 243 monitored days, 226 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 68 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 243 days monitored. Median AQI: 37 (Good).
Insights: Columbia County, Washington. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 37 across 243 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Excellent health grade. Of those days, 226 (93%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 17 (7%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 47, while the worst single-day peak hit 68 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 27.9 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (206 days), PM2.5 (37 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -97 and the median AQI moved +14 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at improving. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 68, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Adams (94.7% good, AQI 19); Asotin (73.8% good, AQI 35); Benton (88.9% good, AQI 35); Chelan (87.2% good, AQI 27); Clallam (88.5% good, AQI 26); Clark (89.3% good, AQI 31).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
93.0%
226 of 243 monitored days
18.0pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
68
Moderate
Health Grade
Excellent
90th-pct AQI 47
Columbia County, Good days share 93.0%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Columbia County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.0%
National avg
Share of monitored days above AQI 150 (Unhealthy or worse). Bar maxes at 10% (worst-county ceiling).
AQI Day Breakdown (2025)
Distribution of 243 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
226
93%
Moderate
17
7%
USG
0
0%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Columbia County.
- Ozone · 206 days · 84.8%
- PM2.5 · 37 days · 15.2%
Health Impact Assessment
Excellent
Columbia County's air quality is rated Excellent based on 93.0% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 93.0% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 37. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 206 of 243 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is improving in Columbia County. Best year: 2024 (331 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 323 | 34 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 258 |
| 2021 | 304 | 53 | 3 | 5 | 39 | 172 |
| 2022 | 314 | 47 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 135 |
| 2023 | 319 | 43 | 0 | 2 | 39 | 259 |
| 2024 | 331 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 90 |
| 2025 | 226 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 68 |
How does Columbia County compare?
How Columbia County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Columbia County 93.0%
Adams County, Washington 94.7%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Columbia County 37
Adams County, Washington 19
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Columbia County 0
Adams County, Washington 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Washington
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Washington.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Columbia County.
Alachua County, Florida
AQI 37 · 90.1% good
Beltrami County, Minnesota
AQI 37 · 88.8% good
Benewah County, Idaho
AQI 37 · 74.6% good
Brevard County, Florida
AQI 37 · 89.7% good
Brown County, Indiana
AQI 37 · 94.5% good
Brown County, Wisconsin
AQI 37 · 79.0% good
What Columbia County's air means for you
The air here stays in the breathable range year-round, with Ozone the main thing to watch.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-Ozone days, the guide explains what a median of 37 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Columbia County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Columbia County with its Washington neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Washington
Based on 243 EPA-monitored days in 2025; figures reflect only days the monitors reported. Source: EPA Air Quality System annual summaries.
More Air Quality Data
Air Quality Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the air quality in Columbia County, Washington? ▼
Columbia County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 37, rated "Good." 93.0% of monitored days (226 out of 243) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Columbia County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Columbia County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 206 days (85% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Columbia County have? ▼
In 2025, Columbia County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 68.
Is the air quality in Columbia County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Columbia County is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 331 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 226 good days.
What does AQI 37 mean for health? ▼
Columbia County's median AQI of 37 falls in the "Good" category. See the <a href="/guides/understanding-aqi" class="underline">AQI category guide</a> for what each range means for health.
How does Columbia County compare to other counties in Washington? ▼
Columbia County has 93.0% good air days. Nearby counties in Washington: Adams (94.7% good), Asotin (73.8% good), Benton (88.9% good), Chelan (87.2% good), Clallam (88.5% good), Clark (89.3% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Columbia County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Columbia County is 47, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 68 (Moderate).
Data Sources
Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by County dataset, 2020–2025 (aqs.epa.gov). For current conditions (not shown here — this page is historical annual data), see EPA AirNow (airnow.gov). See our methodology for how AQI, median, and coverage figures are computed.
Informational only, not professional advice. Data from EPA AQS. See our disclaimer.
Every figure on PlainAir is rendered directly from EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.