Des Moines Air Quality in November
Across 2019–2025, Des Moines's November air quality had a median AQI of 37 (Good) over 210 monitored days in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area. 0.0% of November days (0 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 93.8% of days. The cleanest November on record here was 2021 (median AQI 33, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 45, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 71).
- Good: 76.7%
- Moderate: 23.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in Des Moines in November?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 37 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of November days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓76.7% of November days were Good (AQI 0–50), 23.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the November peak was 77.
- ✓Best November: 2021; worst November: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Des Moines in November?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Des Moines in November was 37 (Good). 76.7% of days were Good, 23.3% Moderate, and 0.0% 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 Des Moines?▾
A typical November day in Des Moines sits in the Good range (median AQI 37), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of November days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Des Moines's November air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 93.8% of November days in Des Moines. The highest November AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 77 (Moderate), in 2023.
Des Moines November air quality, year by year
Des Moines November 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 30 | 35 | 0 | 58 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 30 | 38 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
| 2021cleanest | 30 | 33 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 30 | 35 | 0 | 59 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 30 | 45 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 30 | 37 | 0 | 56 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 30 | 40 | 0 | 68 | PM2.5 |
What November air means in Des Moines
A typical November day in Des Moines sits in the Good range (median AQI 37), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of November days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
November's median AQI of 37 is below Des Moines's whole-year median of 44, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median November AQI across every EPA metro area (92,704 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Des Moines runs in line with the national November norm; 0.0% of its November days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).
November is part of Des Moines's fall season (September, October, November); the fall 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.