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Today's Texas Air Quality Forecast

The latest forecast for air quality conditions in Texas' metropolitan areas.

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March 28, 2024

Forecast is for Ozone, PM2.5, & PM10, and is based on EPA's Air Quality Index (AQI)

Forecast Region
(Click name for AIRNOW version)
Thu
03/28/2024
Fri
03/29/2024
Sat
03/30/2024
Sun
03/31/2024
Amarillo Good Good Good Good
Austin Ozone Good PM2.5 PM2.5
Beaumont-Port Arthur Ozone Good PM2.5 PM2.5
Big Bend Ozone Ozone Good Good
Brownsville-McAllen Ozone/PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5
Bryan-College Station Good Good PM2.5 PM2.5
Corpus Christi Ozone PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5
Dallas-Fort Worth Ozone Good PM2.5 PM2.5
El Paso Ozone/PM2.5 PM2.5/PM10 PM2.5/PM10 PM2.5/PM10
Houston Ozone* Ozone/PM2.5 Ozone/PM2.5 PM2.5
Laredo Ozone PM2.5 PM2.5 PM2.5
Lubbock Good Good Good Good
Midland-Odessa Good Good Good Good
San Antonio Ozone Good PM2.5 PM2.5
Tyler-Longview Good Ozone Ozone/PM2.5 PM2.5
Victoria Good Good PM2.5 PM2.5
Waco-Killeen Ozone Good PM2.5 PM2.5
An asterisk (*) indicates that an Ozone Action Day is or will be in effect for the indicated region.
A caret (^) indicates that levels of PM may exceed the applicable short-term NAAQS. For more information see the following TCEQ websites:Air Pollution from Particulate Matter and Voluntary Tips for Citizens and Business to Reduce Emissions.

Forecast Discussion

An Ozone Action Day is in effect today for the Houston-Galveston area. Light winds, 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 north side and central part of the Houston area, the lower to middle end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Big Bend, Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Laredo, San Antonio, and Waco-Killeen areas, and the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the Amarillo, Bryan-College Station, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, and Tyler-Longview areas.

Southerly winds will slowly return in the afternoon hours as high pressure moves into the Mississippi Valley and southeastern U.S. Moisture transport will remain slow into the eastern half of Texas with the highest relative humidity values expected along the coastal regions. Lighter winds in the East, Southeast, Central, and North Central regions could contribute toward elevated urban fine particulate matter but is not anticipated to be sustained. The daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to net out in the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen and Houston areas and the upper end of the "Good" range in most of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Laredo, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Calm winds, a stable atmosphere, and lingering background pollutants in Far West could increase the daily PM2.5 AQI into the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the El Paso area.

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.

Light winds, abundant 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 Houston area, the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Big Bend and Tyler-Longview areas, and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Waco-Killeen areas.

Deepening low pressure in the Central Plains will increase southerly wind speeds across most of Texas as a dry line sharpens in the western third. Depending on burning activity in southern Mexico, light smoke and aerosols could begin to encroach on the southern and coastal parts of the state. Model guidance suggests moisture transport will remain tempered, and combined with breezy winds should keep pollutant build up tempered in most areas. The daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to net out in the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, Houston, and Laredo areas and the upper end of the "Good" range in a majority of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Gusty winds are forecast to develop in New Mexico and western Texas during the afternoon and evening hours, increasing the possibility for patchy blowing dust in Far West Texas, Permian Basin, and southern Panhandle. The density and duration are not expected to sustain elevated PM concentrations but occasional spikes into the "Moderate" range or higher will be possible. The daily PM2.5/PM10 AQI is forecast to increase into the lower to middle end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area and the upper end of the "Good" range in most of the Lubbock and Midland-Odessa areas.

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

Light winds, abundant afternoon sunshine, and/or elevated incoming background levels could be enough for ozone to reach the lower to middle end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Houston and Tyler-Longview areas and the upper end of the "Good" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-McAllen, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Waco-Killeen areas.

Depending on the burning activity in Mexico and Central America, residual smoke could increase in coverage across the eastern two thirds of Texas due to persistent moderate southerly winds. Additionally, higher relative humidity will create an environment more conducive for fine particulate formation particularly when juxtaposed with smoke and/or aerosols. The daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to net out in 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, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Lingering suspended dust kicked up from the previous day as well as additional areas of patchy blowing dust in Far West Texas due to sporadic gusty conditions could maintain the daily PM2.5/PM10 AQI in the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area.

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.

Light winds, 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 Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Waco-Killeen areas.

High relative humidity is likely to continue being transported out of the Gulf of Mexico as moderate southerly winds persist ahead of a quasi-stationary dry line. Depending on seasonal burning activity in Mexico and Central America, residual smoke could remain a source of fine particulate matter for the eastern two thirds of Texas, particularly when juxtaposed with the advecting moisture. The daily PM2.5 AQI is forecast to net out in the middle of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi, Houston, and Laredo areas and the lower end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, Victoria, and Waco-Killeen areas.

Gusty winds ahead of an eastward advancing cold front could make conditions conducive for patchy blowing dust in west Texas, the Permian Basin, and Panhandle in addition to transported dust out of South/East New Mexico and even northern Mexico. Lingering suspended dust from the previous day could also facilitate elevated fine particulate concentrations, primarily in Far West Texas. The daily PM2.5/PM10 AQI could increase into the lower to middle end of the "Moderate" range in parts of the El Paso area and the upper end of the "Good" range in most of the Amarillo, Big Bend, Lubbock, and Midland-Odessa areas.

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

This forecast was last updated at 10:50 AM on Thursday, March 28th and is updated daily on normal TCEQ workdays and may also be updated on weekends or holidays when air pollution levels are high. Regardless of our forecast, we always recommend that each individual determine what level of activity they should conduct based on the actual local conditions. See the "Related Current Data" links below to monitor the latest actual conditions.

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