Philadelphia Air Quality in November
Across 2019–2025, Philadelphia's November air quality had a median AQI of 56 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD area. 1.4% of November days (3 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 91.9% of days. The cleanest November on record here was 2025 (median AQI 53, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 58, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 107).
- Good: 27.1%
- Moderate: 71.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.4%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Philadelphia
Today's main pollutant in Philadelphia is ground-level ozone (AQI 44). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.
Recommended: Levoit Core 300 — True HEPA + activated carbon · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in Philadelphia in November?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 56 across 2019–2025, with 1.4% of November days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓27.1% of November days were Good (AQI 0–50), 71.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓3 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the November peak was 107.
- ✓Best November: 2025; worst November: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Philadelphia in November?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Philadelphia in November was 56 (Moderate). 27.1% of days were Good, 71.4% Moderate, and 1.4% 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 Philadelphia?▾
A typical November day in Philadelphia 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 71 of November days (1.4%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Philadelphia's November air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 91.9% of November days in Philadelphia. The highest November AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 107 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
Philadelphia November air quality, year by year
Philadelphia November air quality by year (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 30 | 59 | 0 | 85 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 30 | 56 | 1 | 107 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 30 | 60 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 30 | 55 | 0 | 75 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 30 | 58 | 1 | 107 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 30 | 48 | 1 | 104 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 30 | 53 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
What November air means in Philadelphia
A typical November day in Philadelphia 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 71 of November days (1.4%) 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 Philadelphia's whole-year median of 56, 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 Philadelphia runs above the national November norm; 1.4% of its November days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).
November is part of Philadelphia's fall season (September, October, November); the fall page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Philadelphia
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Philadelphia's AQI at 44 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Philadelphia air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD), 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.