Des Moines Air Quality in 2022
In 2022, Des Moines's air quality (Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area) had a median daily AQI of 41 (Good) across 365 monitored days. 0 days (0.0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 273 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 89 (Moderate). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 224 of those days. The cleanest month of 2022 was February (median AQI 35, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 50, 0 days above 100, peak 80).
- Good: 74.8%
- Moderate: 25.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How was Des Moines's air quality in 2022?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 41, with 0 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 1st cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2022: 89 (Moderate).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 224 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: February; worst: June.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Des Moines in 2022?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Des Moines's (Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA) median daily AQI for 2022 at 41, which is Good. 0 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 89.
Which month had the worst air quality in Des Moines in 2022?▾
The cleanest month of 2022 was February (median AQI 35, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 50, 0 days above 100, peak 80).
Was 2022 a good or bad year for Des Moines's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2022 ranks 1st cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the best year on record here. 2022's median of 41 is below the area's typical annual median of 44.
Des Moines month by month in 2022
Des Moines air quality month by month, 2022 (Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 39 | 0 | 62 | PM2.5 |
| Februarycleanest | 28 | 35 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 39 | 0 | 68 | O3 |
| April | 30 | 40 | 0 | 54 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 44 | 0 | 80 | O3 |
| Juneworst | 30 | 50 | 0 | 80 | O3 |
| July | 31 | 46 | 0 | 68 | O3 |
| August | 31 | 41 | 0 | 58 | O3 |
| September | 30 | 38 | 0 | 55 | O3 |
| October | 31 | 42 | 0 | 66 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 35 | 0 | 59 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 40 | 0 | 89 | PM2.5 |
How 2022 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2022 ranks 1st cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the best year on record here.
2022's median of 41 is below the area's typical annual median of 44.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Des Moines
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Des Moines's AQI at 37 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Des Moines air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA), 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.