Detroit, MI Air Quality Today
Sunday, September 20, 2026 · Data: WeatherAPI • EPA
Air quality in Detroit is Good today, September 20. Fine particle and ozone readings are both low right now. Open the windows and keep your plans outside.
Level 1 of 6 on the EPA scale
What's in Detroit's Air Right Now
PM2.5 (fine particles): 5 µg/m³. Anything under 12 µg/m³ counts as clean, so fine particles aren't a concern right now. These particles come from exhaust and smoke and are small enough to reach deep into your lungs.
PM10 (coarse dust): 5 µg/m³. Readings under 54 µg/m³ rate Good. Dust and pollen fragments ride in this size range and irritate your nose and throat.
Ozone: 76 µg/m³. Ozone forms when sunlight cooks car exhaust, so hot afternoons read worst, usually between 2 PM and 7 PM. Mornings stay cleanest.
Nitrogen dioxide: 7.3 µg/m³. NO2 comes almost entirely from traffic and feeds afternoon ozone. Readings run highest near busy roads during the morning and evening commutes.
Is It Safe to Go Outside in Detroit Today?
Yes. The air in Detroit is clean today. Open the windows and keep your run outside. Kids can stay out as long as they want.
Days like this are worth using. If a long walk or a hard workout is on your list this week, today is the day for it.
Air Quality This Week in Detroit
Air quality in Detroit holds at Good every day through Thursday.
Each row is that day's average. Single hours run higher or lower, and the reading at the top of this page is a current measurement rather than an average.
Air Quality and Pollen Are Two Different Numbers
The air quality index tracks pollution: ozone, dust, smoke, and exhaust. Pollen isn't part of the score, so a Good air day in Detroit can still be a rough allergy day.
Right now the biggest pollen load in Detroit is weed pollen, rated Moderate. If your eyes itch while the air reads clean, pollen is the likely culprit.
Check today's Detroit, MI pollen count →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AQI in Detroit right now?
Today's air in Detroit is rated Good, level 1 of 6 on the EPA scale. That's the cleanest category, with no limits on outdoor plans. The reading updates daily, so check back before you head out.
Is it safe to exercise outside in Detroit today?
Yes. Clean air puts no limit on outdoor exercise today. Morning is still the best window in summer, since ozone builds through hot afternoons.
What will the air quality be tomorrow in Detroit?
Tomorrow in Detroit the forecast averages Good, level 1 of 6 on the EPA scale, with fine particles (PM2.5) near 3 µg/m³. That figure is a daily average, so a few hours can run higher or lower than the number here.
Does Detroit have an air quality alert today?
Official alerts come from AirNow.gov and your state air agency, and MyPollenPal doesn't track them directly. Today's EPA category in Detroit is Good. Days rated Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse usually line up with an official alert.
Sources
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / AirNow. "AQI Basics." airnow.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Particulate Matter (PM) Basics." epa.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Ground-level Ozone Basics." epa.gov
Air Quality Is Half the Picture
Pollen fills in the rest. See today's tree, grass, and weed levels for Detroit, or sign up for a morning email on days when pollen runs High or Very High.