Chicago Air Quality in November
Across 2019–2025, Chicago's November air quality had a median AQI of 57 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI area. 1.5% of November days (3 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 85.2% of days. The cleanest November on record here was 2024 (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 59, 2 days above 100, peak AQI 202).
- Good: 25.2%
- Moderate: 73.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
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How is the air in Chicago in November?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 57 across 2019–2025, with 1.5% of November days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓25.2% of November days were Good (AQI 0–50), 73.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓3 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the November peak was 202.
- ✓Best November: 2024; worst November: 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Chicago in November?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Chicago in November was 57 (Moderate). 25.2% of days were Good, 73.3% Moderate, and 1.5% 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 Chicago?▾
A typical November day in Chicago is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 67 of November days (1.5%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Chicago's November air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 85.2% of November days in Chicago. The highest November AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 202 (Very Unhealthy), in 2022.
Chicago November air quality, year by year
Chicago November air quality by year (Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 30 | 62 | 0 | 85 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 30 | 61 | 1 | 103 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 30 | 60 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 30 | 59 | 2 | 202 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 30 | 55 | 0 | 82 | PM2.5 |
| 2024cleanest | 30 | 52 | 0 | 73 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 30 | 55 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
What November air means in Chicago
A typical November day in Chicago is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 67 of November days (1.5%) 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 57 is in line with Chicago's whole-year median of 60, 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 Chicago runs above the national November norm; 1.5% of its November days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).
November is part of Chicago's fall season (September, October, November); the fall page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Chicago
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Chicago's AQI at 46 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Chicago air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI), 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.