Today's Texas Air Quality Forecast

Light winds, warm temperatures, abundant 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 Laredo and San Antonio areas and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, Midland-Odessa, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Small, scattered agricultural burnings along with isolated small wildfires across portions of Louisiana, East Texas, Southeast Texas, the Coastal Plains, and deep South Texas are expected to continue producing light density residual smoke that will linger over small parts of these regions. Additionally, slightly increased urban fine particulate matter associated with a combination of light daytime winds and/or slightly elevated relative humidity levels may raise PM2.5 levels across portions of the eastern two-thirds of the state, especially in the more urban areas. Meanwhile, light density smoke aerosols attributed to industrial activities across the Permian Basin may continue to at times elevate fine particulate levels, however these fine particulates are not expected to sustain elevated PM2.5 levels. Also, light density residual smoke from wildfires within Coconino and Sitgreaves National Forests in Arizona are forecast to filter over portions of the Texas Panhandle as well as the Permian Basin, the South Plains, and far West Texas. While some very light amounts may mix down to the surface, the majority of these aerosols are forecast to remain aloft. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston and Tyler-Longview areas and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Light daytime winds combined with limited vertical mixing, some light urban pollutant carryover from the previous days, and possibly some very light density residual smoke from the wildfires in Arizona may raise the daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs to the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.

Light winds, warm temperatures, abundant afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston, Laredo, and San Antonio areas; the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, and Dallas-Fort Worth areas; and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Midland-Odessa, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

The small, agricultural burning activities across portions of Louisiana, East Texas, Southeast Texas, the Coastal Plains, and deep South Texas along with the small isolated wildfires are forecast to continue producing light density residual smoke that are expected to linger over small parts of these regions of Texas. Additionally, slightly increased urban fine particulate matter associated with a combination of light daytime winds and/or slightly elevated relative humidity levels may raise PM2.5 levels across portions of the eastern two-thirds of the state, especially in the more urban areas. Meanwhile, light density smoke aerosols attributed to industrial activities across the Permian Basin may continue to at times elevate fine particulate levels, however these fine particulates are not expected to sustain elevated PM2.5 levels. Also, model guidance suggests the light density residual smoke from the wildfires within Coconino and Sitgreaves National Forests in Arizona may continue to filter mainly over portions of far West Texas. While some of these aerosols may mix down to the surface, the majority of these fine particulates are forecast to remain aloft. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may 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 in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Midland-Odessa, and Victoria areas.

Light daytime winds combined with limited vertical mixing, some light urban pollutant carryover from the previous days, and some very light density residual smoke from the wildfires in Arizona may keep the daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs at the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.

Moderate to breezy winds and lower incoming background levels should be enough to keep ozone levels in the "Good" range for the majority of areas statewide.

A strong cold front will move through most of the state bringing breezy conditions and cooler temperatures. This will help with dispersion of aerosols attributed to both residual smoke from agricultural burning activities, wildfires, and urban fine particulate matter as well as elevated relative humidity along the coast. The gusty early morning through late evening conditions over far West Texas however may be conducive to generate and transport patchy blowing dust over this region. While PM2.5 and PM10 AQIs may spike at times to the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or even "Unhealthy" ranges at brief times, the overall daily PM2.5/PM10 AQI should net out in the middle to upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area and in the "Good" range for most areas elsewhere statewide.

Cool temperatures and lower incoming background levels should be enough to keep ozone levels in the "Good" range for the majority of areas statewide.

Following the passing of the strong cold front, a cleaner airmass will move over the state. While some local urban fine particulate aerosols in the more urban areas associated with light daytime winds may occasionally raise PM2.5 levels to the "Moderate" range, the overall daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs are forecast to net out in the "Good" range for the majority of the larger urban cities such as Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio areas.

Warm temperatures, abundant 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 Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, and San Antonio areas and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Midland-Odessa, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Slightly elevated urban fine particulate levels associated with light morning winds and lower vertical mixing heights may be enough to raise the daily PM2.5 AQI to the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston and El Paso areas and to the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, San Antonio, 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.