Houston Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (10 October): Air quality in Houston is very poor. AQI and PM10 are very poor; PM2.5 is moderate; NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (PM10: 100/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (11 October 2026): Air quality in Houston is poor. AQI improves to poor; PM10 decreases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (PM10: 70.7/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 10 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Very poor | 100/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Moderate | 57.9/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Very poor | 100/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 0.8/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 9.4/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.1/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 0.8/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 3.3/100 |
Tomorrow - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Poor | 70.7/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Moderate | 45.6/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Poor | 70.7/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 1.4/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 13.6/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.1/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 1.0/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 2.3/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Air pollution in Houston comes from traffic and from one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the world. Refineries and chemical plants line the Houston Ship Channel east of downtown, alongside the busy Port of Houston, while heavy traffic on I-10, I-45 and the 610 Loop adds nitrogen dioxide and fine particles across the city. Industry is a major source of the gases that form ozone. Breezes off Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico often help clear the air, but can also push pollution back inland.
Ozone is Houston's main air quality concern, and the region does not meet the federal ozone standard. Levels are often highest from August to October, on hot, sunny days with light winds, when Ozone Action Days are called. From April to June, smoke from agricultural fires in Mexico and Central America can leave a haze over Houston, and Saharan dust usually arrives between late June and August. Cooler, windier winter weather, averaging around 12°C in January, usually brings the cleanest air of the year.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in Texas
Is air quality bad in Houston right now?
On 10 October 2026, overall air quality in Houston is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 100/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (PM10: 100/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Houston?
On 11 October 2026, air quality conditions in Houston will be better than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 70.7/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (PM10: 70.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Houston?
Ozone is Houston's main air quality concern, and the region does not meet the federal ozone standard. Levels are often highest from August to October, on hot, sunny days with light winds, when Ozone Action Days are called. From April to June, smoke from agricultural fires in Mexico and Central America can leave a haze over Houston, and Saharan dust usually arrives between late June and August. Cooler, windier winter weather, averaging around 12°C in January, usually brings the cleanest air of the year.
Are air quality levels in Houston based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?
Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.
During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 air quality scores represent risk levels, not direct air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
Air Quality
| Good | 0-20 | Low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be good, with low levels of pollution. |
| Fair | 20-40 | Generally low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be acceptable, with some pollution present. |
| Moderate | 40-60 | Moderate air quality risk. Air pollution is elevated and air quality may be less favorable. |
| Poor | 60-80 | High air quality risk. Air pollution is high and air quality is expected to be poor. |
| Very Poor | 80-100 | Very high air quality risk. Air pollution is very high and air quality is expected to be very poor. |