If you thought last summer felt a little hazier, you weren’t imagining it.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission just released its annual air quality report, and while most days still landed in the “Good” category, there were a few not-so-great milestones mixed in.
The headline numbers
From November 2024 through October 2025:
- 76% of days had “Good” ozone levels, which is actually up from the previous year.
- Only 55% of days had “Good” fine particle pollution (PM2.5) levels, down from 65%.
- The region issued eight Air Quality Alerts, more than double the three alerts the year before.
A big factor in the spike? Canadian wildfire smoke drifting into central Ohio and driving up PM2.5 levels.
A first in 13 years
On June 12, 2025, Columbus recorded its first ozone day rated “Unhealthy” for everyone since 2012. Not just “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Unhealthy, period.
On Air Quality Alert days, kids, older adults, and people with respiratory conditions like asthma can experience symptoms like shortness of breath and wheezing. But when levels hit “Unhealthy,” it’s something everyone should pay attention to.
Why it’s happening
Ozone forms when pollution from cars and industry reacts with heat and sunlight. So when we get warmer-than-average temps and less rain, like we did this year, ozone levels can climb.
MORPC monitors air quality as part of a national network and issues daily forecasts using the Air Quality Index. Alerts are based on forecasted conditions, similar to how weather advisories work.
They’re also expanding neighborhood-level monitoring across Franklin County, with 36 PurpleAir sensors now providing real-time data.
What you can do
No one person fixes regional air quality, but small choices add up:
- Cut down on unnecessary driving on high-pollution days
- Skip outdoor burning when air quality is poor
- Consider carpooling, biking, or public transit
You can sign up for Air Quality Alerts through MORPC to get notified when conditions aren’t great.
The full report breaks down trends in more detail, but the takeaway is pretty simple. Most days are still good. But some are getting worse. And yes, it’s worth paying attention.
