Houston Air Quality in November

Across 2019–2025, Houston's November air quality had a median AQI of 57 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX area. 0.0% of November days (0 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 82.9% of days. The cleanest November on record here was 2020 (median AQI 53, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 65, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 78).

57
Median AQI
Moderate
0.0%
Days above AQI 100
0 of 210 days
74
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
96
Peak AQI
Moderate
PM2.5
Main pollutant
82.9% of days
21.4%
Good days
45 of 210
  • Good: 21.4%
  • Moderate: 78.6%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Houston in November?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 57 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of November days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 21.4% of November days were Good (AQI 0–50), 78.6% Moderate (51–100).
  • 0 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the November peak was 96.
  • Best November: 2020; worst November: 2021.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Houston in November?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Houston in November was 57 (Moderate). 21.4% of days were Good, 78.6% Moderate, and 0.0% 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 Houston?

A typical November day in Houston is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of November 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 Houston's November air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 82.9% of November days in Houston. The highest November AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 96 (Moderate), in 2021.

Houston November air quality, year by year

Houston November air quality by year (Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193059096PM2.5
2020cleanest3053074PM2.5
2021worst3065078PM2.5
20223057087PM2.5
20233055094PM2.5
20243058084PM2.5
20253054077PM2.5

What November air means in Houston

A typical November day in Houston is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of November days 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 57 is below Houston's whole-year median of 61, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median November AQI across every EPA metro area (92,704 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Houston runs above the national November norm; 0.0% of its November days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).

November is part of Houston's fall season (September, October, November); the fall page pools all three months.

Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.

Right now in Houston

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Houston's AQI at 57 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Houston air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX), 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.