Today's Texas Air Quality Forecast

Cool temperatures 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 high-pressure system is currently sitting over the state and will continue to deepen while being accompanied by light to moderate daytime winds. The light surface winds combined with limited morning vertical mixing may at times raise urban fine particulate matter to the "Moderate" range, especially in parts of the more populated areas in North Central Texas, deep South Texas, and far West Texas. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI, however, is forecast to remain in the "Good" range (possibly with an isolated low "Moderate") for most of these regions, which include the Brownsville-McAllen, Dallas-Fort Worth, and El Paso areas.

Cool temperatures 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 potential isolated burning activities across the eastern two-thirds of the state, very light density smoke may slightly contribute towards raising fine particulate levels to the "Moderate" range. Meanwhile, the high-pressure system influencing the weather in Texas will continue to produce light to moderate daytime winds. The light winds combined with limited morning vertical mixing may again at times contribute towards elevating urban fine particulate matter to the "Moderate" range, especially in parts of the more populated areas across the eastern two-thirds of the state and far West Texas. Additionally, locally increased particulate matter associated with celebratory festivities including potential firework displays may raise fine particulate aerosols in the vicinity and immediately downwind of these activities. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas and net out in the "Good" range for the majority of the Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Laredo, and Victoria areas. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area as well.

Cool temperatures, insufficient afternoon sunshine, 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 potential isolated burning activities across the eastern two-thirds of the state, very light density smoke may continue to slightly contribute towards raising fine particulate levels to the "Moderate" range. Meanwhile, light morning winds, limited morning vertical mixing, combined with potentially lingering aerosols from overnight New Year's celebratory festivities including firework smoke may at times contribute towards raising urban fine particulate matter to the "Moderate" range in parts of the more populated areas across the eastern two-thirds of the state and far West Texas. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may rise to the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco-Killeen areas and net out in the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Laredo, 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.

Cool temperatures 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 potential isolated burning activities across the eastern two-thirds of the state, very light density smoke may continue to slightly contribute towards raising fine particulate levels to the "Moderate" range. Southerly winds in South and East Texas will advect higher relative humidity into these regions as a developing low-pressure system and attendant cold front move into North Texas. While better moisture could result in conditions that are more conducive for fine particulate formation, the northerly winds behind the front will transport cleaner, drier air southward while higher wind speeds also promote pollutant dispersion. Overall, the daily PM2.5 AQI may rise to the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen and Houston areas and net out in the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Light nighttime winds and a more stable atmosphere in far West Texas could occasionally increase PM2.5/PM10 levels into the "Moderate" range, but the overall daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs are forecast to net out in the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the El Paso area.