Today's Texas Air Quality Forecast

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

The fires in the central/eastern CONUS and Mexico as well as the lingering burnings in Texas continue to produce a light layer of smoke that is expected to remain over most of the state, although model guidance indicates it could thin out and disperse somewhat later today while also remaining mostly aloft. Spotty areas of Saharan dust could also linger in portions of the Southwest region, Permian Basin, and far West Texas. Light morning winds and elevated relative humidity may increase urban fine particulate matter in more populated areas, but scattered precipitation could mitigate these effects. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso, Laredo, and Midland-Odessa areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Big Bend, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the El Paso and Houston areas as well.

Light winds, warm to hot temperatures, 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 and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Light to moderate smoke is forecast to linger over a majority of Texas as the burnings continue in the central and southern CONUS in addition to the burnings scattered across the state, however it is once again expected to remain mostly aloft. Burnings in southern Mexico could also transport light residual smoke into the South region and coastal plains of Texas as well. The Saharan dust from the previous day should be dispersed but the possibility for thunderstorms in far West Texas could produce areas of blowing dust if strong outflows develop. Light morning winds in the eastern half of the state could elevate urban fine particulate matter but moderate afternoon/evening winds will likely mitigate the effects. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso, Laredo, and Midland-Odessa areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Big Bend, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, 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 El Paso area as well.

Light winds, warm to hot temperatures, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the middle to upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, and Houston areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Depending on burnings in the central and southern CONUS in addition to the scattered burnings across Texas, light to moderate smoke could remain spread across most of the state. Burnings in central and southern Mexico could transport light to moderate smoke into South Texas and the coastal Plains of Texas as southerly winds persist. Areas of blowing dust could affect far West Texas associated with any thunderstorms and attendant strong outlfows that manage to develop. Light winds could increase urban fine particulate matter in the eastern thirds of the state as well. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso, Laredo, and Midland-Odessa areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Big Bend, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, 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 El Paso area as well.

Light winds, warm to hot temperatures, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the middle to upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth, the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Amarillo, El Paso, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Light smoke may linger over a large portion of Texas, with higher density smoke moving into the North Central region, as burning activity is forecast to continue in the central and eastern CONUS in addition to possible burnings across Mexico and portions of Texas. Light winds in the eastern two thirds of the state combined with elevated relative humidity could increase urban fine particulate matter as well. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Laredo, and Midland-Odessa areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Big Bend, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Houston, Lubbock, 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 El Paso area as well.

Light winds, warm to hot temperatures, 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, the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston area and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Amarillo, El Paso, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Model guidance suggests that light smoke will once again remain over most of Texas on Tuesday due to burnings scattered across the eastern and central CONUS, central and southern Mexico, as well as small burnings in Texas; however, the density is forecast to decrease. Light morning winds and elevated relative humidity could increase urban fine particulate concentrations, but breezier afternoon/evening winds could mitigate the effects. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso and Laredo areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Big Bend, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, 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 El Paso area as well.