Sumter, SC Air Quality Today
Thursday, July 16, 2026 · Data: WeatherAPI • EPA
Air quality in Sumter is Good today, July 16. Fine particle and ozone readings are both low right now. Open the windows and keep your plans outside.
Level 1 of 6 on the EPA scale
What's in Sumter's Air Right Now
PM2.5 (fine particles): 8 µg/m³. Anything under 12 µg/m³ counts as clean, so fine particles aren't a concern right now. These particles come from exhaust and smoke and are small enough to reach deep into your lungs.
PM10 (coarse dust): 10 µg/m³. Readings under 54 µg/m³ rate Good. Dust and pollen fragments ride in this size range and irritate your nose and throat.
Ozone: 69 µg/m³. Ozone forms when sunlight cooks car exhaust, so hot afternoons read worst, usually between 2 PM and 7 PM. Mornings stay cleanest.
Nitrogen dioxide: 5.6 µg/m³. NO2 comes almost entirely from traffic and feeds afternoon ozone. Readings run highest near busy roads during the morning and evening commutes.
Is It Safe to Go Outside in Sumter Today?
Yes. The air in Sumter is clean today. Open the windows and keep your run outside. Kids can stay out as long as they want.
Days like this are worth using. If a long walk or a hard workout is on your list this week, today is the day for it.
Air Quality and Pollen Are Two Different Numbers
The air quality index tracks pollution: ozone, dust, smoke, and exhaust. Pollen isn't part of the score, so a Good air day in Sumter can still be a rough allergy day.
Right now the biggest pollen load in Sumter is grass pollen, rated Very High. If your eyes itch while the air reads clean, pollen is the likely culprit.
Check today's Sumter, SC pollen count →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AQI in Sumter right now?
Today's air in Sumter is rated Good, level 1 of 6 on the EPA scale. That's the cleanest category, with no limits on outdoor plans. The reading updates daily, so check back before you head out.
Is it safe to exercise outside in Sumter today?
Yes. Clean air puts no limit on outdoor exercise today. Morning is still the best window in summer, since ozone builds through hot afternoons.
Does Sumter have an air quality alert today?
Official alerts come from AirNow.gov and your state air agency, and MyPollenPal doesn't track them directly. Today's EPA category in Sumter is Good. Days rated Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse usually line up with an official alert.
Sources
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / AirNow. "AQI Basics." airnow.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Particulate Matter (PM) Basics." epa.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Ground-level Ozone Basics." epa.gov
Air Quality Is Half the Picture
Pollen fills in the rest. See today's tree, grass, and weed levels for Sumter, or sign up for a morning email on days when pollen runs High or Very High.