Rochester Air Quality in November

Across 2019–2025, Rochester's November air quality had a median AQI of 36 (Good) over 210 monitored days in the Rochester, NY 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 67.6% of days. The cleanest November on record here was 2024 (median AQI 29, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 43, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 71).

36
Median AQI
Good
0.0%
Days above AQI 100
0 of 210 days
55
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
80
Peak AQI
Moderate
PM2.5
Main pollutant
67.6% of days
81.4%
Good days
171 of 210
  • Good: 81.4%
  • Moderate: 18.6%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Rochester in November?

Good on a typical day: median AQI 36 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of November days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 81.4% of November days were Good (AQI 0–50), 18.6% Moderate (51–100).
  • 0 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the November peak was 80.
  • Best November: 2024; worst November: 2020.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Rochester in November?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Rochester in November was 36 (Good). 81.4% of days were Good, 18.6% 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 Rochester?

A typical November day in Rochester sits in the Good range (median AQI 36), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of November days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

Which pollutant causes Rochester's November air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 67.6% of November days in Rochester. The highest November AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 80 (Moderate), in 2020.

Rochester November air quality, year by year

Rochester November air quality by year (Rochester, NY, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193035069PM2.5
2020worst3043071PM2.5
20213038061PM2.5
20223042080PM2.5
20233034058PM2.5
2024cleanest3029052O3
20253030054O3

What November air means in Rochester

A typical November day in Rochester sits in the Good range (median AQI 36), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of November days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

November's median AQI of 36 is below Rochester's whole-year median of 42, 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 Rochester runs in line with the national November norm; 0.0% of its November days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).

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

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

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Rochester, NY), 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.