Detroit Air Quality in January
Across 2019–2025, Detroit's January air quality had a median AQI of 59 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI area. 0.9% of January days (2 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 96.3% of days. The cleanest January on record here was 2020 (median AQI 56, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 63, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 126).
- Good: 22.1%
- Moderate: 77.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.9%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in Detroit in January?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 59 across 2019–2025, with 0.9% of January days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓22.1% of January days were Good (AQI 0–50), 77.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓2 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the January peak was 126.
- ✓Best January: 2020; worst January: 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Detroit in January?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Detroit in January was 59 (Moderate). 22.1% of days were Good, 77.0% Moderate, and 0.9% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is January a good time for outdoor exercise in Detroit?▾
A typical January day in Detroit is Moderate (median AQI 59): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of January days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Detroit's January air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 96.3% of January days in Detroit. The highest January AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 126 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2022.
Detroit January air quality, year by year
Detroit January air quality by year (Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 56 | 1 | 108 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 56 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 66 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 31 | 63 | 1 | 126 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 61 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 61 | 0 | 85 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 56 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
What January air means in Detroit
A typical January day in Detroit is Moderate (median AQI 59): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of January days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
January's median AQI of 59 is in line with Detroit's whole-year median of 58, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median January AQI across every EPA metro area (95,602 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Detroit runs above the national January norm; 0.9% of its January days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (about the same).
January is part of Detroit's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Detroit
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Detroit's AQI at 29 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Detroit air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI), 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.