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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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March 18, 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)
Mon
03/18/2024
Tue
03/19/2024
Wed
03/20/2024
Thu
03/21/2024
Amarillo Good Good Good Good
Austin Good Good Good Good
Beaumont-Port Arthur Good Good Good Good
Big Bend Good Good Good Good
Brownsville-McAllen PM2.5 Good PM2.5 PM2.5
Bryan-College Station Good Good Good Good
Corpus Christi Good Good Good Good
Dallas-Fort Worth PM2.5 Good Good Good
El Paso Good Good Good Good
Houston Good Good Good 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 Good Good Good Good
Victoria Good Good Good Good
Waco-Killeen Good 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 amounts of incoming fine particulate matter attributed to residual smoke from moderate seasonal burning activities across portions of Oklahoma are raising PM2.5 levels into the "Moderate" range across portions of North Central and Northeast Texas. Meanwhile, slightly elevated relative humidity levels and urban fine particulate background levels are keeping PM2.5 concentrations in the "Moderate" range in parts of Deep South Texas, especially immediately along the coastline. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to net out in the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen and Dallas-Fort Worth areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Tyler-Longview area.

Otherwise and elsewhere across the state, moderate winds, cool temperatures, and/or lower incoming background levels should help keep air quality in the "Good" range for most areas.

Very light amounts of residual smoke from the seasonal burning activities across Oklahoma may still slightly elevate fine particulate background levels across portions of North Central and Northeast Texas and possibly isolated spots in Southeast Texas, however southerly winds will help steer the smoke back northward as well as help with dispersion of the fine particulate matter. Meanwhile, slightly elevated urban fine particulate background levels over portions of the eastern two-thirds of the state along with Far West Texas associated with light morning winds may briefly raise PM2.5 levels into the "Moderate" range, with the highest concentrations in the morning and early evening. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI however is not expected to increase beyond the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Otherwise and elsewhere across the state, moderate winds, cool temperatures, and/or lower incoming background levels should help keep air quality in the "Good" range for most areas.

Model guidance has seasonal burning activities possibly continuing across portions of Oklahoma with minimal activity across the majority of Texas. Southerly winds will help keep any residual smoke from expanding into parts of North Central or Northeast Texas. Meanwhile, gusty afternoon winds may briefly "kick-up" fine particulate dust across portions of Far West Texas, however the duration and intensity of the possible suspended dust is not expected to raise the overall PM2.5/PM10 AQIs beyond the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the region. Meanwhile, slightly elevated relative humidity levels could enhance fine particulate background levels across portions of Deep South Texas, raising PM2.5 concentrations into the "Moderate" range at times. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to stay at the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen area and net out in the "Good" range for the majority of the Dallas Fort Worth, El Paso, and Tyler-Longview areas.

Otherwise and elsewhere across the state, moderate winds, cool temperatures, increasing cloud cover, and/or lower incoming background levels should help keep air quality in the "Good" range for most areas.

Light winds, elevated relative humidity levels, and/or with increased low-level cloud cover may contribute to the elevation of fine particulate background levels across portions of the eastern two-thirds of the state. Depending on scattered rain showers across the eastern two-thirds of the state, which will help wash-out background fine particulate matter, the daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen and Houston areas and net out in the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Otherwise and elsewhere across the state, moderate winds, cool temperatures, increasing cloud cover, and/or lower incoming background levels should help keep air quality in the "Good" range for most areas.

This forecast was last updated at 9:50 AM on Monday, March 18th, 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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