The 2026 ozone season in North Carolina begins on March 1, with state and local environmental agencies resuming daily air quality forecasts for ozone across the state. These forecasts, provided by the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (DAQ), will continue through October 31 and are available on the Air Quality Portal.
The DAQ’s daily forecast also includes information about fine particulate matter pollution throughout the year. Ground-level ozone is created when nitrogen oxides react with hydrocarbons in heat and sunlight. High ozone levels have been associated with heart and lung conditions, such as asthma, especially among young children, older adults, and other sensitive groups.
Ozone levels during peak days in North Carolina have continued to decline due to reductions in emissions from major sources like power plants, industry, and motor vehicles. In 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized North Carolina as meeting the 2015 ozone standard statewide. The state has maintained compliance since then.
Meteorologists at DAQ monitor and forecast both ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) using the air quality index (AQI) system and color codes to inform residents as they plan outdoor activities. Forecasts for the next three days are released daily by 3 p.m., with updates provided by 10 a.m. the following morning.
The DAQ provides localized forecasting for 91 counties in North Carolina as well as two mountain ridgetop zones. The Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection is responsible for air quality forecasts in the greater Triad region, including Winston-Salem and Greensboro.
All statewide air quality forecasts can be accessed through the Air Quality Portal—a mobile-friendly website developed in partnership with the North Carolina State Climate Office—as well as via the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow website and app. Updates are also shared on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts managed by DAQ.
In addition to forecasts, the Air Quality Portal offers real-time and historical data on air quality and weather conditions through its Ambient Information Reporter tool. Trends in ozone data for all monitors nationwide can be viewed using the Ozone Design Value Predictor tool. Educational videos explaining AQI color codes are available in both English and Spanish.
Additional resources in Spanish can be found at AirNow. For information in Spanish or other languages, residents may call 919-707-8446 or email Shawn.Taylor@deq.nc.gov.
The Department of Environmental Quality supports public education efforts to foster community awareness across North Carolina (official website). The agency focuses on science-based environmental stewardship that promotes health for all residents (official website), while regulating air, land, water, and coastal environments throughout the state (official website). Its responsibilities include air quality regulation, permit issuance, enforcement of environmental laws, waste management, water resource oversight (official website), and protection of natural resources (official website). The central office is located at 217 West Jones Street in Raleigh (official website).
