Des Moines Air Quality in 2023
In 2023, Des Moines's air quality (Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area) had a median daily AQI of 52 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 15 days (4.1%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 168 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 166 (Unhealthy). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 281 of those days. The cleanest month of 2023 was October (median AQI 37, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 74, 11 days above 100, peak 166).
- Good: 46.0%
- Moderate: 49.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.8%
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How was Des Moines's air quality in 2023?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52, with 15 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 7th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2023: 166 (Unhealthy).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 281 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: October; worst: June.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Des Moines in 2023?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Des Moines's (Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA) median daily AQI for 2023 at 52, which is Moderate. 15 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 166.
Which month had the worst air quality in Des Moines in 2023?▾
The cleanest month of 2023 was October (median AQI 37, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 74, 11 days above 100, peak 166).
Was 2023 a good or bad year for Des Moines's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2023 ranks 7th cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the worst year on record here. 2023's median of 52 is above the area's typical annual median of 44.
Des Moines month by month in 2023
Des Moines air quality month by month, 2023 (Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 53 | 0 | 91 | PM2.5 |
| February | 28 | 41 | 0 | 57 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 46 | 0 | 62 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 50 | 0 | 64 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 59 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
| Juneworst | 30 | 74 | 11 | 166 | PM2.5 |
| July | 31 | 54 | 2 | 159 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 54 | 0 | 75 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 54 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| Octobercleanest | 31 | 37 | 0 | 58 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 45 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 37 | 0 | 62 | PM2.5 |
How 2023 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2023 ranks 7th cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the worst year on record here.
2023's median of 52 is above 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.