Today's Texas Air Quality Forecast

Insufficient afternoon sunshine and/or lower incoming background levels should be enough to keep ozone levels in the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, and Tyler-Longview areas.

A plume of Saharan dust is forecast to slightly weaken over deep South Texas, South Central Texas, North Central Texas, and along the Rio Grande Valley, with slightly heavier densities continuing to linger over Southeast and Northeast Texas. Meanwhile, elevated relative humidity levels will continue across the majority of the state and may contribute slightly towards raising fine particulate matter. Also, light daytime winds over Northeast and Southeast Texas are expected to slightly raise urban fine particulate matter as well. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur and Houston areas; the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas; and the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the Amarillo, Brownsville-McAllen, Laredo, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, and Victoria areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio areas as well.

Fine urban particulate levels owing to limited dispersion from light daytime winds could be enough to keep the daily PM2.5 AQI in the upper end of the "Good" range (perhaps with an isolated low "Moderate" possible) for the majority of the El Paso area.

Warm to hot temperatures, light winds, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area and the upper end of the "Good" range (perhaps with an isolated low "Moderate" possible) for the majority of the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

The plume of Saharan dust over East and Southeast Texas is forecast to continue weakening and dispersing, however another light to moderately dense plume of Saharan dust is forecast to arrive over deep South Texas, along the southern coastal bend of Texas and begin moving inland over South Central Texas, Southeast Texas, and the lower Rio Grande Valley. Meanwhile, light to moderate density residual smoke from local fires across portions of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico may be transported over portions of the Texas Panhandle and far West Texas, however the majority of this smoke is expected to remain aloft. Additionally, locally heavy smoke from Independence Day fireworks and celebratory activities will be possible in spots across the state, particularly in more urban locations which may cause PM2.5 levels to spike into the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or even "Unhealthy" range at times. Also, slightly elevated relative humidity levels will continue across the majority of the state and may contribute towards raising fine particulate matter too. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas and the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the Amarillo, Lubbock, and Midland-Odessa areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, and Houston areas and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, and San Antonio areas as well.

Warm to hot temperatures, light winds, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area and the upper end of the "Good" range (perhaps with an isolated low "Moderate" possible) for the majority of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Model guidance indicates that the plume of Saharan dust will filter and expand over the eastern two-thirds of the state, with the higher densities forecast to be over Southeast Texas. Meanwhile, depending on the amount of burning activities across portions of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico, light residual smoke may continue filtering and/or lingering over the Texas Panhandle, the South Plains, and far West Texas, however most of the smoke should remain aloft. Also, extensive wildfire activity across central and northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and portions of Manitoba are producing light to heavy density residual smoke and some of the light density smoke may make its way southeastward and filter over portions of East, Southeast, and North Central Texas, however most of this smoke should also remain aloft. Additionally, slightly elevated relative humidity levels will continue across the majority of the state and may contribute towards raising fine particulate matter too. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur and Houston areas and the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, and Houston areas and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio areas as well.

Calm to light winds over far West Texas is forecast to hinder dispersion and allow pollutants to accumulate, possibly raising urban fine particulate matter and the PM2.5 AQI to the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area. The PM10 AQI may reach the upper end of the "Good" range (perhaps with an isolated low "Moderate" possible) in parts of the El Paso area as well.

Warm to hot temperatures, light winds, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, and Houston areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

The plume of Saharan dust may continue filtering and lingering over the eastern two-thirds of the state while expanding over the Permian Basin, the South Plains, and the Big Bend region, with the higher densities over Southeast Texas. Meanwhile, light density residual smoke from a combination of small burning activities across portions of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico as well as the extensive wildfire activity across central and northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and portions of Manitoba may continue lingering over portions of the Texas Panhandle, the South Plains, and far West Texas, East, Southeast, and North Central Texas, however most of the smoke should remain aloft. Additionally, slightly elevated relative humidity levels will continue across the majority of the state and may contribute towards raising fine particulate matter too. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston area and the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston area and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio areas as well.

Fine urban particulate levels owing to limited dispersion from light winds are expected to increase the daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs to the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.

Warm to hot temperatures, light winds, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso and Houston areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Depending on the coverage of the plume of Saharan dust, model guidance suggests it will cover the majority of the state, however may begin weakening and dispersing. Additionally, slightly elevated relative humidity levels will continue across the majority of the state and may contribute towards raising fine particulate matter too. Also, light daytime winds over North Central, Northeast, and Southeast Texas are expected to slightly raise urban fine particulate matter as well. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio areas as well.

Fine urban particulate levels owing to limited dispersion from light winds may raise the daily PM2.5 AQI to the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.