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 middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Big Bend, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, and San Antonio areas; the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Lubbock, and Midland-Odessa areas; and the upper end of the "Good" range (perhaps with an isolated low "Moderate") in parts of the Amarillo, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Northerly winds are expected to help quell the spread of residual smoke and aerosol fine particulate matter from scattered fire activities, volcanic emissions, and industrial sources across Central and Southern Mexico from filtering over a significant amount of Texas. Very light amounts may linger over small parts of deep South Texas, however PM2.5 levels should continue to improve as the northerly winds keep the majority of the light to moderate density residual smoke out of the state. Meanwhile, small, scattered burning activities across portions of Central Texas and industrial activities across the Permian Basin are expected to produce light density residual smoke and industrial aerosols that may be produced from these sources, however the intensity and coverage of these smoke plumes and fine particulate matter are not expected to impact PM2.5 concentrations much. Additionally, slightly elevated fine particulate background levels associated with continental haze could occasionally increase PM2.5 levels to the "Moderate" range in parts of the more urban areas of North Central, South Central, Southeast Texas and the Permian Basin as well. Overall, the daily AQI could rise to the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston area and is expected to remain in the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Fine urban particulate levels owing to limited dispersion from light daytime winds and limited vertical mixing may increase 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 Big Bend, El Paso, Houston, Midland-Odessa, and San Antonio areas; the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Amarillo, Austin, Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, Lubbock, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas; and the upper end of the "Good" range (perhaps with an isolated low "Moderate") in parts of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, and Tyler-Longview areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Depending on the amount of scattered burning activities across portions of Central Texas and industrial activities across the Permian Basin, light density residual smoke and industrial aerosols may continue to linger over small areas in these regions of Texas. Additionally, slightly elevated urban fine particulate background levels in parts of the more urban areas of far West Texas, North Central, South Central, and Southeast Texas, and the Permian Basin associated with continental haze may contribute towards periodically raising PM2.5 concentrations to the "Moderate" range at times too. Overall, the daily AQI is forecast to remain in the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Fine urban particulate levels owing to limited dispersion from light morning winds and limited vertical mixing may maintain the daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs to the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.

An Ozone Action Day will be in effect Sunday for 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 lower end of the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range on the west side of the El Paso area; the upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston, Midland-Odessa, and San Antonio areas; the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Big Bend, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, Lubbock, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas; the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Amarillo area; and should remain in the "Good" range for the majority of the Beaumont-Port Arthur and Tyler-Longview areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

As a surface high-pressure system develops over Texas, a dry continental airmass will continue moving over the state, bringing fair weather. Should scattered burning activities across portions of Central Texas continue in addition to potential new burning activities across East Texas begin, as well as industrial activities across the Permian Basin, light density residual smoke and industrial aerosols may linger over small areas in these regions of Texas. Additionally, slightly elevated urban fine particulate background levels in parts of the more urban areas of far West Texas, North Central, South Central, and Southeast Texas, and the Permian Basin associated with continental haze may continue to contribute towards occasionally raising PM2.5 concentrations to the "Moderate" range. The overall daily AQI is forecast to remain in the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Light morning winds and an overnight temperature inversion, limiting atmospheric mixing and dispersion at the surface across portions of far West Texas, may enhance fine particulate matter enough to raise the daily PM2.5/PM10 AQIs to the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.

An Ozone Action Day will be in effect Monday for the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio areas. Light winds, warm temperatures, abundant afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated lingering background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the middle to upper end of the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range on the south and east side of the Houston and San Antonio areas; the lower end of the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range on the south side of the Dallas-Fort Worth area; the upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Corpus Christi, Laredo, Midland-Odessa, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas; the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Big Bend, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, El Paso, Lubbock areas; and the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Amarillo, Beaumont-Port Arthur, and Tyler-Longview areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Depending on the amount of scattered burning activities across portions of Central and Eastern Texas as well as industrial activities across the Permian Basin, light density residual smoke and industrial aerosols may linger over these regions of Texas. Additionally, slightly elevated urban fine particulate background levels in parts of the more urban areas of far West Texas, North Central, South Central, and Southeast Texas, and the Permian Basin associated with continental haze may continue to contribute towards increasing PM2.5 concentrations to the "Moderate" range at times across these regions of the state. The overall daily AQI may reach the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio areas and is forecast to remain in the "Good" range for the majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Laredo, Midland-Odessa, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Light morning winds and an overnight temperature inversion, limiting atmospheric mixing and dispersion at the surface across portions of far West Texas, may enhance fine particulate matter 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 lingering background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the lower end of the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range in parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio areas; the upper end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Waco-Killeen area; the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Bryan-College Station, Laredo, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, and Victoria areas; and the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Amarillo, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Big Bend, Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, El Paso, and Tyler-Longview areas, with the highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.

Depending on the amount of scattered burning activities across portions of Central and Eastern Texas as well as industrial activities across the Permian Basin, light density residual smoke and industrial aerosols may continue to linger over these regions of Texas. Additionally, as winds turn southerly, slightly elevated urban fine particulate background levels in parts of the more urban areas of far West Texas, North Central, South Central, and Southeast Texas, and the Permian Basin associated with continental haze recirculation may contribute towards increasing PM2.5 concentrations to the "Moderate" range at times across these regions of the state. The overall daily 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, Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Strong afternoon and evening winds may generate and transport patchy blowing dust from sources in northern Mexico through portions of far West Texas that could be enough to raise the overall daily PM2.5 AQI to the lower end of the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range in parts of the El Paso area. The daily PM10 AQI could reach the lower end of the "Unhealthy" range in parts of the El Paso area as well.