Today's Texas Air Quality Forecast

Light winds, warm 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 El Paso area and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Dallas-Fort Worth, and Midland-Odessa areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Small, scattered burning activities across portions of Central, North Central, and Northeast Texas may persist and produce fine particulates attributed to light density residual smoke over parts of these regions and very slightly contribute towards raising PM2.5 levels. Additionally, the light density residual smoke over deep South Texas and the Coastal Plains, associated with ongoing burning and fire activities across Mexico and Central America, are expected to continue filtering over these regions. Newer model guidance suggests that a light density plume of Saharan dust may have arrived sooner than previously expected, filtering over deep South Texas and may expand over small portions of the Coastal Plains and Southeast Texas. Isolated to scattered rain showers across the state however should help washout some of these fine particulates. Elevated relative humidity levels and/or light morning winds over the more populated areas in the state are expected to continue to contribute towards slightly raising fine particulate matter as well. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston area and the upper end of the "Good" range (perhaps with an isolated low "Moderate") for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria and Waco-Killeen areas.

Thunderstorm outflows overnight and early this morning produced gustier winds than previously expected and generated patchy blowing dust across far West Texas, producing hazy skies and high fine particulate matter. While these conditions will subside later this morning, these early morning conditions along with morning concentrations may be enough to raise the daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs to the lower to middle of the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range in parts of the region, which include the El Paso area.

Light winds, warm 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 El Paso area and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Amarillo, Dallas-Fort Worth, Lubbock, and Midland-Odessa areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Small, scattered burning activities across portions of Central, North Central, and Northeast Texas are expected to be minimal from isolated to scattered rain showers across the eastern two-thirds of the state. The light density residual smoke over deep South Texas and the Coastal Plains, associated with burning and fire activities across Mexico and Central America, is expected to continue filtering over these regions. Meanwhile, the light density plume of Saharan dust will continue filtering over deep South Texas, the Coastal Plains, Southeast Texas, and the lower Rio Grande Valley. Precipitation across the eastern two-thirds of the state should help washout some of these fine particulates. Elevated relative humidity levels and/or light morning winds over the more populated areas in the state may continue to contribute towards slightly raising fine particulate matter as well. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen, Houston, and Laredo areas and the upper end of the "Good" range (perhaps 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.

Slightly elevated urban fine particulate background levels over portions of far West Texas associated with light daytime winds and limited morning vertical mixing, could raise the daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs to the upper end of the "Good" range (perhaps with an isolated low "Moderate") in parts of the El Paso area.

Light winds, warm temperatures, sufficient 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 El Paso area and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Amarillo, Lubbock, and Midland-Odessa areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Depending on the potential small, scattered burning activities across portions of Central, North Central, and Northeast Texas, light density residual smoke may be produced over parts of these regions and very slightly contribute towards raising PM2.5 levels. Additionally, the light density residual smoke over deep South Texas and the Coastal Plains, associated with potentially ongoing burning and fire activities across Mexico and Central America, may continue to filter over these regions. Meanwhile, the light density plume of Saharan dust will continue to expand further inland and reach South Central Texas and portions of North Central as well as Northeast Texas. Elevated relative humidity levels over the more populated areas for most of the state with the exception of far West Texas may continue to contribute towards slightly raising fine particulate matter as well. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, San Antonio, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Tyler-Longview areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, and Houston areas as well.

Slightly elevated fine particulate levels associated with brief gusty winds over portions of far West Texas could be enough to raise the daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs to the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.

Light winds, warm 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 El Paso area; the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Amarillo area; and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, and San Antonio areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Should small, scattered burning activities across portions of Central, North Central, and Northeast Texas, light density residual smoke may continue to be produced over parts of these regions and very slightly contribute towards raising PM2.5 levels. Additionally, the light density residual smoke over deep South Texas and the Coastal Plains, associated with potentially ongoing burning and fire activities across Mexico and Central America, may continue to filter over these regions. Meanwhile, the light density plume of Saharan dust is forecast to linger over the eastern two-thirds of the state. Elevated relative humidity levels over the more populated areas for most of the state with the exception of far West Texas may continue to contribute towards slightly raising fine particulate matter as well. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, Houston, and Victoria areas and the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, and Houston areas as well.

Fine urban particulate levels owing to limited dispersion from light daytime winds and limited morning vertical mixing over far West Texas could be enough to raise the daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs to the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.

Light winds, warm temperatures, sufficient 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 El Paso area; the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area; and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Amarillo, Austin, Houston, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, and San Antonio areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Depending on the small, scattered burning activities across portions of Central, North Central, and Northeast Texas, light density residual smoke may continue to be produced over parts of these regions and very slightly contribute towards raising PM2.5 levels. Additionally, the light density residual smoke over deep South Texas and the Coastal Plains, associated with potentially ongoing burning and fire activities across Mexico and Central America, may continue to filter over these regions. Meanwhile, the light density plume of Saharan dust is forecast to linger over the eastern two-thirds of the state. Elevated relative humidity levels over the more populated areas for the eastern two-thirds of the state may continue to contribute towards slightly raising fine particulate matter as well. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI may stay at the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, Houston, and Victoria areas and at the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Fine urban particulate levels owing to limited dispersion from light daytime winds and limited morning vertical mixing over far West Texas could be enough to keep the daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs at the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.