Today's Texas Air Quality Forecast

Cool to warm temperatures, scattered cloud cover, and/or lower incoming background levels are forecast to be enough to keep ozone levels in the "Good" range for the majority of the state.

Isolated scattered burnings across East and Southeast Texas are producing light density smoke that is affecting portions of the immediate surrounding areas and may be advected northward as the southerly winds continue throughout the day; however, widespread significant effects on fine particulate levels are not expected. Meanwhile, urban and industrial activity in South and East Mexico continues to produce light density smoke and aerosols that are being transported into deep South Texas and could eventually reach the coastal bend of Texas as moisture is also advected out of the Gulf resulting in patchy fog in the South and South Central regions. Additionally, industrial activity in the Permian Basin could produce some very light plumes of smoke and aerosols that may affect the areas in and around the city of Midland-Odessa. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may rise to the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen area, the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas, and the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the Bryan-College Station, Midland-Odessa, and Victoria areas.

Light winds are keeping urban fine particulate matter elevated in far West Texas although an incoming front could modestly increase vertical mixing in the region, promoting slightly better pollutant dispersion at times in far West Texas. However, the overall daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs are forecast to net out in the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.

Cool to warm temperatures, scattered cloud cover, and/or lower incoming background levels are forecast to be enough to keep ozone levels in the "Good" range for the majority of the state.

A few scattered burnings could persist in Central and East Texas on Tuesday, producing light density smoke that could affect these regions as well as portions of Northeast Texas as winds turn out of the west/southwest. Elevated relative humidity will remain in the eastern half of the state during the early morning hours, making patchy fog possible in South, South Central, and Southeast Texas, but westerly winds behind a weak cold front and dryline will push most of this moisture into the South, South Central, and Southeast Texas during the afternoon and evening. Meanwhile, depending on the urban and industrial activity in Mexico, light density smoke/aerosols could continue to affect portions of South Texas as well as along the coastal bend of Texas. Additionally, the persistent light winds could keep urban fine particulate matter elevated in the more populated areas in the eastern half of the state. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may rise to the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen and Laredo areas, the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Tyler-Longview areas, and the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the Bryan-College Station, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Building up of urban fine particulate matter is expected in far West Texas due to very light winds, although weak vertical mixing could occasionally help with pollutant dispersion. The overall daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs are forecast to net out in the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.

Warm temperatures, light to moderate winds, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated lingering background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Depending on the urban and industrial activity across Mexico, light density smoke and aerosols could continue affecting portions of South Texas and the coastal areas of Texas as southerly winds persist ahead of a dryline in Central Texas. Fine particulate matter will remain elevated in the aforementioned areas as relative humidity remains slightly elevated, along with light winds enhancing the effects of urban fine particulates as well. Moisture advection northward as the dryline gradually begins to diffuse could slightly increase moisture levels in Central, North Central, and East Texas, with increasing elevated urban fine particulates expected as light winds affect these regions also. Meanwhile, scattered small burnings across East and Southeast Texas could produce light to moderate smoke in the immediate surrounding areas and downwind of the activity, but the coverage is not expected to have significant, widespread effects on PM2.5 concentrations. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may rise to the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen and Laredo areas, the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas, and the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the Bryan-College Station and Victoria areas.

Light to moderate morning winds in far West Texas could slightly elevate urban fine particulate matter but increasing vertical mixing and chances for precipitation associated with a passing front are expected to temper concentrations overall. The daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs are forecast to net out in the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the El Paso area.

Cool to warm temperatures, scattered precipitation, and/or lower incoming background levels are forecast to be enough to keep ozone levels in the "Good" range for the majority of the state.

Slightly elevated relative humidity will persist in the eastern two thirds of the state during the morning hours as another dryline develops in the western third of Texas. Depending on the burning and industrial activity in Mexico, light density smoke and aerosols could affect the South, South Central, and coastal regions of Texas. While the smoke/aerosols juxtaposed with elevated relative humidity could keep conditions conducive for fine particulate formation, higher wind speeds compared to earlier in the week could facilitate better pollutant dispersion and temper PM2.5 concentrations at times. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may rise to the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen and Laredo areas, the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas, and the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the Bryan-College Station and Victoria areas.