Detroit Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Detroit's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 61 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI area. 12.6% of summer days (81 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 67.9% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2022 (median AQI 59, 6 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 74, 20 days above 100, peak AQI 226).
- Good: 16.3%
- Moderate: 71.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 11.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 1.6%
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How is the air in Detroit in summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 61 across 2019–2025, with 12.6% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓16.3% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 71.1% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓81 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 226.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Detroit in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Detroit in summer was 61 (Moderate). 16.3% of days were Good, 71.1% Moderate, and 12.6% 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 Detroit?▾
A typical summer day in Detroit is Moderate (median AQI 61): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 8 of summer days (12.6%) 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 summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 67.9% of summer days in Detroit. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 226 (Very Unhealthy), in 2023.
Detroit summer air quality, year by year
Detroit summer 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 | 92 | 61 | 9 | 142 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 60 | 16 | 188 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 61 | 7 | 140 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 92 | 59 | 6 | 133 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 74 | 20 | 226 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 59 | 9 | 181 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 92 | 61 | 14 | 166 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Detroit
A typical summer day in Detroit is Moderate (median AQI 61): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 8 of summer days (12.6%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Summer's median AQI of 61 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 Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Detroit runs above the national Summer norm; 12.6% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 58, 5.1% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 62, 19.5% above 100).
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 season 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.