Iowa
24 monitoring stations · readings from 42 to 80
Average AQI
Air quality in Iowa
Air quality in Iowa is currently 66 on the AQI scale, which falls in the Moderate band. That number is the average across every monitoring station reporting in Iowa right now.
We aggregate 24 stations across Iowa. Individual stations range from 42 at the cleanest to 80 at the worst, so conditions vary across Iowa — the local figure matters more than the average.
Iowa breaks down into 14 cities you can open individually. Of those listed below, Des Moines is reading highest at 76 and Estherville lowest at 42.
Readings refresh hourly from the official monitoring networks we track. Conditions can change quickly, so check back before planning time outdoors.
What to do at moderate levels
Outdoor activity
Fine for most people. If you are planning a long or intense session outdoors, the early morning is usually cleaner.
Sensitive groups
Unusually sensitive people may notice mild irritation. Keep reliever medication to hand if you use it.
Indoor air
Ventilating is still worthwhile. Consider closing up during traffic peaks if you live on a busy road.
Cities in Iowa
14 cities
76Des Moines
Moderate
- Stations
- 3
- Range
- 72–80
Keosauqua
Moderate
- Stations
- 1
- Range
- 74–74
74Muscatine
Moderate
- Stations
- 2
- Range
- 72–75
73Cedar Rapids
Moderate
- Stations
- 2
- Range
- 72–74
73Davenport
Moderate
- Stations
- 3
- Range
- 73–74
Buffalo
Moderate
- Stations
- 1
- Range
- 72–72
Fairfield
Moderate
- Stations
- 1
- Range
- 72–72
72Iowa City
Moderate
- Stations
- 2
- Range
- 72–72
65Clinton
Moderate
- Stations
- 3
- Range
- 62–68
54Waterloo
Moderate
- Stations
- 2
- Range
- 54–54
Red Oak
Good
- Stations
- 1
- Range
- 46–46
Stanton
Good
- Stations
- 1
- Range
- 46–46
Emmetsburg
Good
- Stations
- 1
- Range
- 42–42
Estherville
Good
- Stations
- 1
- Range
- 42–42
About Iowa
Coordinates
41.712, -92.109
Centroid of monitored stations
Stations
24
Reporting in this area
Spread
42 – 80
Cleanest to worst station reading
Other regions nearby
Iowa air quality, answered
Iowa is currently reading an AQI of 66, which is Moderate. It is the average across 24 reporting stations.
Fine for most people. If you are planning a long or intense session outdoors, the early morning is usually cleaner. Unusually sensitive people may notice mild irritation. Keep reliever medication to hand if you use it.
66 sits in the Moderate band of the air quality index. The index runs from 0 to 500, and the lower the number the cleaner the air.
We currently aggregate 24 stations in Iowa, reading between 42 and 80.
Of the cities currently listed for Iowa, Des Moines is reading highest at 76 (Moderate).
Hourly. We pull from the official monitoring networks that publish for this region, and this page refreshes on the same cadence.
See Iowa on the map.
Every station around it, live — or find out what today's reading means for you personally.