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 middle to upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Big Bend, Houston, and Midland-Odessa areas.

Light morning winds may limit atmospheric mixing and dispersion of urban fine particulate matter long enough at the surface in portions of Far West Texas to raise the overall daily PM2.5 AQI to the middle to upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area. The daily PM10 AQI may also reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area as well.

Slightly elevated relative humidity levels from the Gulf of Mexico are lingering over South Texas, Southeast Texas, the coastal bend of Texas and portions of South Central Texas and the Big Bend region. Additionally, moderate to high density residual smoke from seasonal burning activities throughout central-southern Mexico, Central America, as well as the Yucatan Peninsula are also lingering and/or filtering over South Texas, Southeast Texas, the coastal bend of Texas and portions of South Central Texas and the Big Bend region, ahead of and along a weak cold frontal boundary extending across Central Texas. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen area, particularly over portions of South Padre Island; the middle to upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Corpus Christi and Victoria areas; the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Big Bend, Houston, Laredo, and San Antonio areas; and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin and Bryan-College Station areas. The daily PM10 AQI may also reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen area and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Corpus Christi, Houston, and San Antonio areas as well.

Light winds, warm temperatures, sufficient 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 El Paso area and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Big Bend and Midland-Odessa areas.

Slightly elevated urban fine particulate levels associated with light morning winds over portions of Far West Texas could be enough to raise the daily PM2.5 AQI to the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area. The daily PM10 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area as well.

The moderate to heavy residual smoke from seasonal burning activities throughout central-southern Mexico, Central America, and the Yucatan Peninsula as well as elevated relative humidity levels are forecast to continue lingering and/or filtering at varying intensities primarily over South Texas, Southeast Texas, the coastal bend of Texas and portions of South Central Texas and the Big Bend region. Scattered rain showers associated with the slow moving cold front may help wash-out some of the fine particulate matter. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen area; the lower to middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Corpus Christi and Victoria areas; the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston, Laredo, and San Antonio areas; and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Big Bend, and Bryan-College Station areas.

Light winds, warm temperatures, sufficient afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Big Bend and El Paso areas.

Fine urban particulate levels owing to limited dispersion from light morning winds over portions of Far West Texas may be enough to increase the daily PM2.5 AQI to the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.

Northerly windflow will help push the moderate to heavy density residual smoke from seasonal burning activities throughout central-southern Mexico, Central America, as well as the Yucatan Peninsula out of the state. The more moderate density residual smoke may still linger over Deep South Texas and the southern coastal bend of Texas with lighter amounts over Southeast and South Central Texas. Slightly elevated relative humidity levels may continue to contribute towards elevating PM2.5 levels over South Texas, the coastal bend of Texas, and portions of Southeast Texas as well. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to reach the middle to upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen area; the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Corpus Christi area; and the upper end of the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Houston, Laredo, San Antonio, and Victoria areas.

Otherwise and elsewhere, moderate winds, cool to mild temperatures, lingering cloud cover, and/or lower incoming background levels should help keep air quality in the "Good" range in most spots.

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 Houston area; the lower end of the "Moderate" range of the Dallas-Fort Worth and El Paso areas; and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin and San Antonio areas.

Depending on the amount of lingering residual smoke from the seasonal burning activities throughout central-southern Mexico, Central America, as well as the Yucatan Peninsula, fine particulate levels may be slightly elevated over portions of South Texas. Meanwhile, slightly elevated urban fine particulate background levels over portions of Southeast and Far West Texas associated with light morning winds could at times raise PM2.5 concentrations. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen and Houston areas.

Otherwise and elsewhere, moderate winds, cool to mild temperatures, and/or lower incoming background levels should help keep air quality in the "Good" range in most spots.

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 Houston area; the lower end of the "Moderate" range of the Dallas-Fort Worth and El Paso areas; and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, and San Antonio areas.

Depending on the amount seasonal burning activities throughout central-southern Mexico, Central America, as well as the Yucatan Peninsula, model guidance suggests that southerly winds may begin to introduce another plume of light to moderate density residual smoke and slightly elevated fine particulate levels over portions of South Texas, Southwest Texas, and the southern coastal bend of Texas. Meanwhile, slightly elevated urban fine particulate background levels over portions of Southeast and Far West Texas associated with light morning winds could periodically raise PM2.5 concentrations. The overall daily PM2.5 AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen, El Paso, and Houston areas and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Corpus Christi and Laredo areas.

Otherwise and elsewhere across the state, moderate winds, mild temperatures, and/or lower incoming background levels should help keep air quality in the "Good" range for most areas.