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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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November 12, 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)
Tue
11/12/2024
Wed
11/13/2024
Thu
11/14/2024
Fri
11/15/2024
Amarillo Good Good Good Good
Austin Good Good Good Good
Beaumont-Port Arthur PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5
Big Bend Good Good Good Good
Brownsville-McAllen PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5
Bryan-College Station PM2.5 PM2.5 Good Good
Corpus Christi PM2.5 PM2.5 Good Good
Dallas-Fort Worth PM2.5 Good PM2.5 PM2.5
El Paso PM2.5/PM10 PM2.5/PM10 PM2.5/PM10 PM2.5/PM10
Houston PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5
Laredo Good Good Good Good
Lubbock Good Good Good Good
Midland-Odessa Good Good Good Good
San Antonio PM2.5 Good Good Good
Tyler-Longview Good PM2.5 Good Good
Victoria Good Good Good Good
Waco-Killeen Good PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5
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 winds, warm temperatures, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels may be enough for ozone to reach the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Victoria areas, with the highest concentrations expected in the afternoon and evening.

Scattered fire activity, volcanic emissions, and industrial sources along the Central and Southwestern Pacific Coasts of Mexico, in addition to scattered burnings in the South-Central U.S., were creating an area of light density smoke along the Gulf coastal areas, extending northward into North-Central and East Texas. Additionally, light winds across a majority of the eastern two thirds of the state have resulted in slightly elevated urban fine particulate matter particularly in the more populated areas. Depending on the amount of lingering urban fine particulate matter, the overall daily AQI may increase into the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio areas and stay in the "Good" range (possibly with an isolated low "Moderate") for most of the Austin, Laredo, 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.

Depending on the scattered burning activity across the South-Central U.S. and north/east Texas as well as the burnings, volcanic emissions, and industrial aerosols emanating from southern/eastern Mexico; light density smoke and fine particulate matter could continue affecting the eastern half of the state. An advancing cold front will enter west Texas by the early morning hours and while winds will modestly strengthen, the boundary could provide a focal point for pollutant convergence at times as it moves eastward. The daily PM2.5 AQI could remain in the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Houston, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas and in the "Good" range (possibly with an isolated low "Moderate") for most of the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, San Antonio, and Victoria areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area as well.

The northerly winds behind the aforementioned cold front are expected to largely advect most of the lingering smoke from Mexico out of the previously affected areas in Texas, however, model guidance suggests a persistent presence of very light residual smoke across portions of central, north central, and eastern Texas due to scattered localized burnings. Meanwhile, urban fine particulate matter could also affect the most populated areas across the state as weak surface winds become more widespread due to building high pressure. The daily PM2.5 AQI could net out in the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, and Waco-Killeen areas and in the "Good" range (possibly with an isolated low "Moderate") for most of the Austin, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Victoria areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area as well.

Surface flow will gradually turn out of the south and east as an upper trough advances eastward from the west coast. Depending on the burnings in the eastern half of Texas as well as eastern/southern Mexico, very light amounts of residual smoke and/or aerosols could elevate fine particulate matter in addition to urban haze facilitated by persisting weak surface winds in the eastern half of the state. Meanwhile, light winds and stable atmospheric conditions in far west Texas could result in lingering urban fine particulate matter as dispersion continues to be limited. The daily PM2.5 AQI could net out in the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, and Waco-Killeen areas and in the "Good" range (possibly with an isolated low "Moderate") for most of the Austin, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Victoria areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area as well.

This forecast was last updated at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, November 12th, 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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