San Diego Air Quality in November
Across 2019–2025, San Diego's November air quality had a median AQI of 69 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the San Diego-Carlsbad, CA area. 4.3% of November days (9 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 78.6% of days. The cleanest November on record here was 2021 (median AQI 63, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 85, 4 days above 100, peak AQI 104).
- Good: 8.6%
- Moderate: 87.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 4.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for San Diego Homes
Air quality in San Diego is moderate (AQI 54), with fine particles (PM2.5) the main concern. A True-HEPA purifier gives sensitive groups — kids, seniors and anyone with asthma or allergies — cleaner air indoors on days like today.
Recommended: Coway AP-1512HH Mighty — True HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft
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How is the air in San Diego in November?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 69 across 2019–2025, with 4.3% of November days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓8.6% of November days were Good (AQI 0–50), 87.1% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓9 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the November peak was 133.
- ✓Best November: 2021; worst November: 2020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in San Diego in November?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in San Diego in November was 69 (Moderate). 8.6% of days were Good, 87.1% Moderate, and 4.3% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 210 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is November a good time for outdoor exercise in San Diego?▾
A typical November day in San Diego is Moderate (median AQI 69): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 23 of November days (4.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes San Diego's November air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 78.6% of November days in San Diego. The highest November AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 133 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2020.
San Diego November air quality, year by year
San Diego November air quality by year (San Diego-Carlsbad, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 30 | 74 | 2 | 103 | PM2.5 |
| 2020worst | 30 | 85 | 4 | 104 | PM2.5 |
| 2021cleanest | 30 | 63 | 0 | 86 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 30 | 63 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 30 | 65 | 3 | 133 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 30 | 68 | 0 | 99 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 30 | 65 | 0 | 96 | PM2.5 |
What November air means in San Diego
A typical November day in San Diego is Moderate (median AQI 69): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 23 of November days (4.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
November's median AQI of 69 is in line with San Diego's whole-year median of 67, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median November AQI across every EPA metro area (92,704 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so San Diego runs above the national November norm; 4.3% of its November days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (above average).
November is part of San Diego's fall season (September, October, November); the fall page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in San Diego
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts San Diego's AQI at 54 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current San Diego air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (San Diego-Carlsbad, CA), 2019–2025. Daily AQI per CBSA is the highest AQI reported by any monitor in the area that day; the defining parameter is the pollutant that set it. Month and season statistics pool every such day in the period across all years listed. Retrieved 2026-09-09.