Detroit Air Quality in October
Across 2019–2025, Detroit's October air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI area. 0.5% of October days (1 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 89.9% of days. The cleanest October on record here was 2025 (median AQI 48, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 55, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 134).
- Good: 40.6%
- Moderate: 59.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in Detroit in October?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 0.5% of October days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓40.6% of October days were Good (AQI 0–50), 59.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 217 reached AQI 101+; the October peak was 134.
- ✓Best October: 2025; worst October: 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Detroit in October?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Detroit in October was 53 (Moderate). 40.6% of days were Good, 59.0% Moderate, and 0.5% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is October a good time for outdoor exercise in Detroit?▾
A typical October day in Detroit is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of October 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 October air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 89.9% of October days in Detroit. The highest October AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 134 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2024.
Detroit October air quality, year by year
Detroit October 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 | 51 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 79 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 58 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 60 | 0 | 89 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 56 | 0 | 91 | PM2.5 |
| 2024worst | 31 | 55 | 1 | 134 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 31 | 48 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
What October air means in Detroit
A typical October day in Detroit is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of October days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
October's median AQI of 53 is below Detroit's whole-year median of 58, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median October AQI across every EPA metro area (102,872 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 38, so Detroit runs above the national October norm; 0.5% of its October days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (about the same).
October 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.