Kansas City Air Quality in Fall
Across 2019–2025, Kansas City's fall (September–November) air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 637 monitored days in the Kansas City, MO-KS area. 1.6% of fall days (10 of 637) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 64.1% of days. The cleanest fall on record here was 2019 (median AQI 49, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 52, 4 days above 100, peak AQI 165).
- Good: 44.7%
- Moderate: 53.7%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.3%
Extra Protection for Kansas City Homes
Air quality in Kansas City is moderate (AQI 64), with fine particles (PM2.5) the main concern. A True-HEPA purifier gives sensitive groups — kids, seniors and anyone with asthma or allergies — cleaner air indoors on days like today.
Recommended: Coway AP-1512HH Mighty — True HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in Kansas City in fall?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 1.6% of fall days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓44.7% of fall days were Good (AQI 0–50), 53.7% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓10 days of 637 reached AQI 101+; the fall peak was 165.
- ✓Cleanest month: November; worst month: September.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Kansas City in fall?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Kansas City in fall was 52 (Moderate). 44.7% of days were Good, 53.7% Moderate, and 1.6% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 637 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is fall a good time for outdoor exercise in Kansas City?▾
A typical fall day in Kansas City is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 63 of fall days (1.6%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Kansas City's fall air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 64.1% of fall days in Kansas City. The highest fall AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 165 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Kansas City fall air quality, year by year
Kansas City fall air quality by year (Kansas City, MO-KS, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 91 | 49 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 91 | 52 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 91 | 53 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 91 | 53 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 91 | 52 | 4 | 165 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 49 | 2 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 91 | 48 | 3 | 136 | PM2.5 |
What fall air means in Kansas City
A typical fall day in Kansas City is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 63 of fall days (1.6%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Fall's median AQI of 52 is in line with Kansas City's whole-year median of 54, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median Fall AQI across every EPA metro area (296,275 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Kansas City runs above the national Fall norm; 1.6% of its Fall days topped AQI 100 versus 1.5% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, November is the cleanest month (median AQI 52, 0.0% of days above 100) and September the worst (median 54, 3.9% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Kansas City
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Kansas City's AQI at 64 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Kansas City air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Kansas City, MO-KS), 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.