Des Moines Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Des Moines's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 49 (Good) over 644 monitored days in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area. 2.8% of summer days (18 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 54.5% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2019 (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 62, 13 days above 100, peak AQI 166).
- Good: 52.8%
- Moderate: 44.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.8%
Improve Indoor Air Quality
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How is the air in Des Moines in summer?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 49 across 2019–2025, with 2.8% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓52.8% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 44.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓18 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 199.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Des Moines in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Des Moines in summer was 49 (Good). 52.8% of days were Good, 44.4% Moderate, and 2.8% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is summer a good time for outdoor exercise in Des Moines?▾
A typical summer day in Des Moines sits in the Good range (median AQI 49), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 36 of summer days (2.8%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Des Moines's summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 54.5% of summer days in Des Moines. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 199 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Des Moines summer air quality, year by year
Des Moines summer 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 92 | 44 | 0 | 100 | O3 |
| 2020 | 92 | 44 | 2 | 199 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 55 | 1 | 110 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 46 | 0 | 80 | O3 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 62 | 13 | 166 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 50 | 0 | 71 | O3 |
| 2025 | 92 | 52 | 2 | 136 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Des Moines
A typical summer day in Des Moines sits in the Good range (median AQI 49), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 36 of summer days (2.8%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Summer's median AQI of 49 is above Des Moines's whole-year median of 44, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Des Moines runs in line with the national Summer norm; 2.8% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 46, 0.9% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 53, 5.3% above 100).
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 season 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.