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Current PM-2.5 Levels -
Soot, Dust, and Smoke in Your Metro Area
Click in one of the boxes on the map to view hourly PM-2.5 and PM-10 measurements at sites collecting data in the area you select. Click anywhere else in the state to view hourly PM-2.5 and PM-10 measurements from all sites.
The latest PM-25 image available is for Tuesday September 7, 2010 21-22:00 CDT (Central Daylight Time). If the image below is not current, force your browser to reload the correct image.
Please Note: Data in this image is collected from TCEQ air monitoring sites, local agencies, and private monitoring networks. This data has not been verified by the TCEQ or the responsible entity and may change. While this is the most current data, it is not official until it has been certified by the appropriate technical staff. This image is updated hourly.
What Does the Map Show?
The map above shows the highest current hourly PM-2.5 average for each metropolitan area where one or more continuous PM-2.5 monitoring sites are located. The map is updated each hour and shows measurements for the time listed at the top of the map. The colors on the map are based on a projection of 1-hour averages to a daily (24-hour) average. Since there is no federal Air Quality Index (AQI) standard for 1-hour PM-2.5 averages, a projection to the 24-hour AQI standard is our best estimate of the current 1-hour PM-2.5 air quality.
The 1-hour to 24-hour projection is based on statistics collected during exceptionally high smoke events comparing the daily maximum 1-hour average to the midnight-to-midnight 24-hour average. The table below shows the starting level of each air quality level and color for both the 1-hour projection and the actual 24-hour AQI.
| Color |
Air Quality Rating |
1-Hour
Average
(µg/m³) |
24-Hour
Average
(µg/m³) |
Actions to take |
| Green |
Good |
0 - 19.9 |
0 - 15.4 |
No health impacts are expected when levels are within this range.
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| Yellow |
Moderate |
20 - 59.9 |
15.5 - 40.4 |
Unusually sensitive people, such as those with asthma, should consider limiting prolonged outdoor activity.
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| Orange |
Unhealthy
for sensitive groups |
60 - 99.9 |
40.5 - 65.4 |
Active children and adults as well as people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
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| Red |
Unhealthy |
100 - 249.9 |
65.5 - 150.4 |
Everyone, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
People with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
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| Purple |
Very Unhealthy |
250 - 499.9 |
150.5 - 250.4 |
Everyone, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.
People with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion and limit exposure by staying inside (air conditioned spaces are best).
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| Maroon |
Hazardous |
500+ |
250.5+ |
Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion.
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Particulate Matter: PM-2.5
| Pollutant | Abbreviation | Description |
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| Particulate Matter | PM2.5 | Fine particulates (PM-2.5) are generally emitted from activities such as industrial and residential combustion and from vehicle exhaust. Fine particles are also formed in the atmosphere when gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, emitted by combustion activities, are transformed by chemical reactions in the air. Large-scale agricultural burning or sand storms can produce huge volumes of fine particulates. PM-2.5 data is the near real-time measurement of particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in size from the surrounding air. This measurement is made at local conditions, and is not corrected for temperature or pressure. |
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