Detroit Air Quality in November

Across 2019–2025, Detroit's November air quality had a median AQI of 56 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI area. 3.3% of November days (7 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 97.1% of days. The cleanest November on record here was 2024 (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 57, 4 days above 100, peak AQI 131).

56
Median AQI
Moderate
3.3%
Days above AQI 100
7 of 210 days
78
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
131
Peak AQI
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
PM2.5
Main pollutant
97.1% of days
27.6%
Good days
58 of 210
  • Good: 27.6%
  • Moderate: 69.0%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.3%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Detroit in November?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 56 across 2019–2025, with 3.3% of November days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 27.6% of November days were Good (AQI 0–50), 69.0% Moderate (51–100).
  • 7 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the November peak was 131.
  • Best November: 2024; worst November: 2022.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Detroit in November?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Detroit in November was 56 (Moderate). 27.6% of days were Good, 69.0% Moderate, and 3.3% 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 Detroit?

A typical November day in Detroit is Moderate (median AQI 56): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 30 of November days (3.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Detroit's November air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 97.1% of November days in Detroit. The highest November AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 131 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2022.

Detroit November air quality, year by year

Detroit November air quality by year (Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193057095PM2.5
202030581126PM2.5
202130620100PM2.5
2022worst30574131PM2.5
202330582120PM2.5
2024cleanest3052069PM2.5
20253054077PM2.5

What November air means in Detroit

A typical November day in Detroit is Moderate (median AQI 56): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 30 of November days (3.3%) 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 56 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 November AQI across every EPA metro area (92,704 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Detroit runs above the national November norm; 3.3% of its November days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (above average).

November is part of Detroit's fall season (September, October, November); the fall 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.