Today's Texas Air Quality Forecast

Moderate winds, widespread 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.

Light density smoke continues to linger across the southern most parts of Texas as burning activity continues in Central/Eastern Mexico; and has combined with light smoke from agricultural burnings in the Southeastern U.S., creating a plume that extends from Southeast Texas to the South region. However, as the upper-level trough continues to approach the coverage/intensity of showers and thunderstorms will spread through a large portion of the state, increasing dispersal of fine particulate matter in the affected areas. Light winds in Central and Northern Texas could spike PM2.5 levels into the "Moderate" range at times but precipitation will largely negate these effects. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen, Houston, and Laredo areas and in the upper end of the "Good" range (possibly with an isolated low "Moderate") for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas. The overall PM10 AQI could reach the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the Houston area as well.

Light to moderate winds could slightly elevate urban fine particulate matter in far West Texas but the overall daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs are forecast to remain in the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the El Paso area.

Moderate winds, 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.

A cold front associated with a low-pressure system in the Central Plains, extending from Northeast Texas through the South region on Friday morning. Elevated relative humidity ahead of the front could slightly elevate fine particulate concentrations occasionally as convergence occurs near the boundary, but scattered precipitation ahead of it will likely result in sufficient dispersion. Additionally, the southerly winds south and east of the front could advect light density smoke from burning and industrial activity in Central Mexico but will be limited to the deep South region of Texas. Meanwhile, increasing westerly winds behind the front in the western half of the state will temper fine particulate matter in any remaining regions with elevated PM2.5 levels. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen and Laredo areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas. The overall PM10 AQI could reach the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the Houston area as well.

Light winds could slightly elevate urban fine particulate matter in far West Texas, but vertical mixing and possible precipitation could keep the overall daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs in the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the El Paso area.

Moderate winds, 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.

The cold front will stall over the South/South Central Texas Saturday morning and will keep higher relative humidity limited to the regions near and South of the boundary. Depending on the burning activity across Mexico, the Lower Mississippi Valley, and Southeast U.S., light density smoke could linger over the South region and extend across the coastal and Southeast regions of Texas. While scattered precipitation associated with the front could facilitate dispersion, the combination of smoke and rich moisture is forecast to result in sustained, elevated fine particulate matter concentrations. Additionally, light winds in Central and North Texas associated with high pressure in the Panhandle could occasionally elevate PM2.5 levels but the lack of higher relative humidity will likely keep them tempered overall. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, and Victoria areas.

Light winds could slightly elevate urban fine particulate matter in far West Texas, but possible evening precipitation could keep the overall daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs in the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the El Paso area.

Moderate winds, 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.

Depending on the burning activity in Mexico and the Southeastern U.S., light density smoke could linger across portions of South, Southeast, and coastal bend of Texas. Meanwhile, moisture advection will increase northward as incoming low pressure turns surface winds out of the south, creating an environment more conducive for fine particulate formation. Additionally, light winds in East/Northeast Texas could slightly increase the influence of urban fine particulate matter as well. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, and Victoria areas.

Light winds and pollutant carryover from the previous day could slightly elevate urban fine particulate matter in far West Texas, but the overall daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs are forecast to remain in the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the El Paso area.