Today's Texas Air Quality Forecast

Moderate afternoon winds 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.

An area of light-density smoke, consisting of primarily of aerosols from gas flaring and other urban/industrial activity across Mexico, mixed with additional emissions from scattered fire activity in the region and remnants from previous days’ activities, was observed dispersing into the South region of Texas. Additionally, scattered burnings across the Lower Mississippi Valley and the Southeast U.S. have spread light density smoke into the Southeast region of Texas as well as along coastal areas of Texas. Meanwhile, light winds in East Texas combined with high relative humidity could slightly elevate urban fine particulate matter, particularly during the morning hours. Smoke and aerosols due to burning and industrial activity in the Permian Basin are combining with high relative humidity to elevate fine particulate matter, but increasing chances for precipitation could increase dispersion this afternoon and evening. 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, Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Big Bend, and Bryan-College Station 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 and pollutant carryover from the previous day could slightly elevate urban fine particulate matter at times in far West Texas, but vertical mixing and likely precipitation are forecast to keep the daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs in the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the El Paso area.

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 could linger across the southern most parts of Texas as burning activity continues in Central Mexico, occasionally resulting in slightly increased fine particulate matter during the morning hours. However, as the upper-level trough continues to approach, the coverage and intensity of showers and thunderstorms will spread through most of the state, dispersing any lingering fine particulate matter. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen area and Laredo areas and the in 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.

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 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.

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 around 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. 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, Houston, Laredo, San Antonio, and Victoria areas and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen 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.