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Today's Texas Air Quality Forecast

The latest forecast for air quality conditions in Texas' metropolitan areas.

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September 19, 2024

Forecast is for Ozone, PM2.5, & PM10, and is based on EPA's Air Quality Index (AQI)

Forecast Region
(Click name for AIRNOW version)
Thu
09/19/2024
Fri
09/20/2024
Sat
09/21/2024
Sun
09/22/2024
Amarillo Good Good Good Good
Austin Good Good Good Good
Beaumont-Port Arthur Ozone/PM2.5 Ozone/PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5
Big Bend Good Good Good Good
Brownsville-McAllen Good Good Good Good
Bryan-College Station Good Good Good Good
Corpus Christi Good Good Good Good
Dallas-Fort Worth Ozone/PM2.5 Ozone/PM2.5 Ozone/PM2.5 Ozone/PM2.5
El Paso Ozone/PM2.5/PM10 PM2.5 Good Good
Houston Ozone/PM2.5 Ozone/PM2.5 Ozone/PM2.5 Ozone/PM2.5
Laredo Good Good Good Good
Lubbock Good Good Good Good
Midland-Odessa Good Good Good Good
San Antonio Good Good Good Good
Tyler-Longview Ozone Ozone/PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5
Victoria Good Good Good Good
Waco-Killeen Ozone Good Good Good
An asterisk (*) indicates that an Ozone Action Day is or will be in effect for the indicated region.
A caret (^) indicates that levels of PM may exceed the applicable short-term NAAQS. For more information see the following TCEQ websites:Air Pollution from Particulate Matter and Voluntary Tips for Citizens and Business to Reduce Emissions.

Forecast Discussion

Light winds, warm temperatures, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels may be enough for ozone to reach the upper end of the "Moderate" range (or possibly higher) on the north side of the Dallas-Fort Worth area and in the central region and on the north side of the Houston area; the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, El Paso, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas; and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Bryan-College Station, and San Antonio areas, with the highest concentrations expected in the afternoon and evening.

Very light fine particulate matter associated with residual smoke from a combination of fires mainly across Canada, the southeastern U.S., and an isolated burning source in Northeast Texas are expected to remain over Texas, with the slightly higher amounts over North Central, Southeast, and East Texas. Meanwhile, PM2.5 levels may be slightly elevated in more urban areas of the state associated with continental haze from light daytime surface winds. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, and Houston areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Houston area as well.

Light winds, warm to hot temperatures, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels may be enough for ozone to reach the upper end of the "Moderate" range (or possibly higher) on the north side of the Dallas-Fort Worth area and in the central region and on the north side of the Houston area; the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur and Tyler-Longview areas; and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Bryan-College Station, El Paso, San Antonio, and Waco-Killeen areas, with the highest concentrations expected in the afternoon and evening.

Depending on the density of the residual smoke over the state from a combination of fires across Canada, the southeastern U.S., and possibly isolated burning activities across Eastern Texas with the slightly higher concentrations over North Central, Southeast, and East Texas, most of the smoke should remain aloft however very light amounts of the fine particulate matter may mix down to the surface. Meanwhile, slightly elevated urban fine particulate levels associated with light daytime surface winds could contribute towards raising PM2.5 concentrations in parts of the state as well. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, and Tyler-Longview areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, San Antonio, and Waco-Killeen areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the El Paso area as well.

Light winds, warm temperatures, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels may be enough for ozone to reach the middle to upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, El Paso, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas, with the highest concentrations expected in the afternoon and evening.

Model guidance suggests that the very light density residual smoke from a combination of fires mainly across Canada and the southeastern U.S. may continue to linger over the state with the slightly higher concentrations mainly over North Central, Southeast, and East Texas, however most of the fine particulate matter should remain aloft. Meanwhile, slightly elevated urban fine particulate levels associated with light morning surface winds could contribute towards raising PM2.5 concentrations in parts of the state as well. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Tyler-Longview areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, El Paso, San Antonio, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Light winds, warm temperatures, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels may be enough for ozone to reach the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, El Paso, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas, with the highest concentrations expected in the afternoon and evening.

Smoke aloft from a combination of fires mainly across Canada and the southeastern U.S. is forecast to persist over the state with slightly higher concentrations over North Central, Southeast, and East Texas. Slightly elevated urban fine particulate levels associated with light morning surface winds could contribute towards raising PM2.5 concentrations in parts of the state as well. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Tyler-Longview areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, El Paso, San Antonio, and Waco-Killeen areas.

This forecast was last updated at 2:30 PM on Thursday, September 19th, and is updated daily on normal TCEQ workdays and may also be updated on weekends or holidays when air pollution levels are high. Regardless of our forecast, we always recommend that each individual determine what level of activity they should conduct based on the actual local conditions. See the "Related Current Data" links below to monitor the latest actual conditions.

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