Des Moines Air Quality in February
Across 2019–2025, Des Moines's February air quality had a median AQI of 42 (Good) over 198 monitored days in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area. 0.0% of February days (0 of 198) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 94.4% of days. The cleanest February on record here was 2020 (median AQI 34, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 56, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 79).
- Good: 63.1%
- Moderate: 36.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in Des Moines in February?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 42 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of February days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓63.1% of February days were Good (AQI 0–50), 36.9% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 198 reached AQI 101+; the February peak was 80.
- ✓Best February: 2020; worst February: 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Des Moines in February?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Des Moines in February was 42 (Good). 63.1% of days were Good, 36.9% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 198 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is February a good time for outdoor exercise in Des Moines?▾
A typical February day in Des Moines sits in the Good range (median AQI 42), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of February days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Des Moines's February air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 94.4% of February days in Des Moines. The highest February AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 80 (Moderate), in 2019.
Des Moines February air quality, year by year
Des Moines February air quality by year (Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019worst | 28 | 56 | 0 | 79 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 29 | 34 | 0 | 58 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 28 | 50 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 28 | 35 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 28 | 41 | 0 | 57 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 29 | 36 | 0 | 60 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 28 | 35 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
What February air means in Des Moines
A typical February day in Des Moines sits in the Good range (median AQI 42), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of February days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
February's median AQI of 42 is in line with Des Moines's whole-year median of 44, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median February AQI across every EPA metro area (87,428 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 41, so Des Moines runs in line with the national February norm; 0.0% of its February days topped AQI 100 versus 0.4% nationally (about the same).
February is part of Des Moines's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Des Moines
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Des Moines's AQI at 32 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Des Moines air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA), 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.