Alexandria, Virginia Air Quality
Alexandria air quality today — the AQI, the main pollutant, and whether it’s safe to exercise outside right now
Alexandria, VA · Air quality right now
The air quality index in Alexandria, VA is 51 (Moderate) right now — acceptable for most people.
Is it safe to be outside in Alexandria today?
AQI 51 Yes — air quality is Moderate
Fine for most; unusually sensitive people can take it easy.Main pollutant: PM2.5Observed 10:00 AM EDT
Pollutants right now
- PM2.55.4 µg/m³Main pollutantfine particles — smoke, exhaust, soot
- PM105.5 µg/m³coarse particles — dust, pollen, ash
- Ozone59 µg/m³smog — builds on hot, sunny days
- NO₂6.8 µg/m³nitrogen dioxide — traffic, combustion
ExerciseOK to run for most; sensitive athletes can ease the intensity.
How to read Alexandria’s air quality
Guides: The AQI Scale, Explained · Air Quality Alerts, Decoded · How to Read a Wildfire Smoke Map · Why Wildfire Smoke Travels 1,000 Miles.
Air quality over time in Alexandria
Across the EPA’s county records from 2021 to 2021, Alexandria’s cleanest year was 2021 (median AQI 6) and its most polluted was 2021 (median AQI 6); the typical (median) day has held roughly steady since 2021.
| Year | Median AQI | Unhealthy+ | Main pollutant | USG | Moderate | Good |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 | 0 | PM10 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
“USG” is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (AQI 101–150); “Unhealthy+” combines the Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy, and Hazardous days. In 2024 the EPA tightened the annual fine-particle (PM2.5) standard to 9 µg/m³ from the previous 12 µg/m³, so counties near the old limit read worse against the new one. Source: EPA AQS annual summaries, 2021.
Frequently asked
- What was the worst year for air quality in Alexandria?
- No day in Alexandria's county topped AQI 100 in the EPA's 2021 records. The highest median AQI came in 2021, at 6.
- How many unhealthy air days does Alexandria have?
- None: across 2021, no day in Alexandria's county had an AQI above 100 in the EPA's records (15 days reported).
- What's the main air pollutant in Alexandria?
- PM10: it drove Alexandria's county AQI on the most days in every year of the EPA's 2021 records.