Des Moines Air Quality in June

Across 2019–2025, Des Moines's June air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area. 5.3% of June days (11 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 64.3% of days. The cleanest June on record here was 2019 (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 74, 11 days above 100, peak AQI 166).

53
Median AQI
Moderate
5.3%
Days above AQI 100
11 of 210 days
84
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
166
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
O3
Main pollutant
64.3% of days
44.8%
Good days
94 of 210
  • Good: 44.8%
  • Moderate: 50.0%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 4.3%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 1.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Des Moines in June?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 5.3% of June days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.

  • 44.8% of June days were Good (AQI 0–50), 50.0% Moderate (51–100).
  • 11 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the June peak was 166.
  • Best June: 2019; worst June: 2023.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Des Moines in June?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Des Moines in June was 53 (Moderate). 44.8% of days were Good, 50.0% Moderate, and 5.3% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 210 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is June a good time for outdoor exercise in Des Moines?

A typical June day in Des Moines is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 19 of June days (5.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Des Moines's June air quality problems?

Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 64.3% of June days in Des Moines. The highest June AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 166 (Unhealthy), in 2023.

Des Moines June air quality, year by year

Des Moines June air quality by year (Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
2019cleanest30460100O3
20203054084O3
20213048084O3
20223050080O3
2023worst307411166PM2.5
20243049071O3
20253056097PM2.5

What June air means in Des Moines

A typical June day in Des Moines is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 19 of June days (5.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

June's median AQI of 53 is above Des Moines's whole-year median of 44, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median June AQI across every EPA metro area (100,635 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Des Moines runs above the national June norm; 5.3% of its June days topped AQI 100 versus 3.7% nationally (above average).

June is part of Des Moines's summer season (June, July, August); the summer 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.