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Houston air right now

ModerateAQI 55

Houston’s five-day smoke forecast shows the current index and the clearest time ahead.

55
AQI now
11.1
PM2.5 · µg/m³
Look farther for cleaner air

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

You may already have the cleanest nearby air.No meaningfully cleaner place has a verified road route within 3 hours. Widen the range or show worse air for context.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Houston Local readings Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Galveston
Cel-shaded illustration of Galveston
AQI 63
#1Galveston~1 h 5 min drive

Texas· Moderate

Gulf Coast island city with extensive lodging and marine air south of Houston.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 15.5 µg/m³ here vs 11.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 15.5/22 × 7 = 4.9 here; 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Houston

40% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Surfside Beach
Cel-shaded illustration of Surfside Beach
AQI 67
#2Surfside BeachChecking road route

Texas· Moderate

Low-key Gulf beach town near the Brazos River mouth, swept by onshore sea air, with rentals and cottages.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 17.6 µg/m³ here vs 11.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 17.6/22 × 7 = 5.6 here; 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Houston

59% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Beaumont
Cel-shaded illustration of Beaumont
AQI 69
#3BeaumontChecking road route

Texas· Moderate

A major Texas city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 18.8 µg/m³ here vs 11.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 18.8/22 × 7 = 6.0 here; 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Houston

69% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Jacinto City
Cel-shaded illustration of Jacinto City
AQI unavailable
#4Jacinto CityChecking road route

Texas

Texas community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Galena Park
Cel-shaded illustration of Galena Park
AQI unavailable
#5Galena ParkChecking road route

Texas

Texas community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Bunker Hill Village
Cel-shaded illustration of Bunker Hill Village
AQI unavailable
#6Bunker Hill VillageChecking road route

Texas

Texas community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
South Houston
Cel-shaded illustration of South Houston
AQI unavailable
#7South HoustonChecking road route

Texas

Texas community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Pasadena
Cel-shaded illustration of Pasadena
AQI unavailable
#8PasadenaChecking road route

Texas

Texas community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Aldine
Cel-shaded illustration of Aldine
AQI unavailable
#9AldineChecking road route

Texas

Texas community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Cloverleaf
Cel-shaded illustration of Cloverleaf
AQI unavailable
#10CloverleafChecking road route

Texas

Texas community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Hudson
Cel-shaded illustration of Hudson
AQI unavailable
#11HudsonChecking road route

Texas

Texas community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Alief
Cel-shaded illustration of Alief
AQI unavailable
#12AliefChecking road route

Texas

Texas community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Port Lavaca
Cel-shaded illustration of Port Lavaca
AQI 55
#13Port LavacaChecking road route

Texas· Moderate

Gulf-bay fishing town on Lavaca Bay, cooled by open-water air away from the bigger coastal cities.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 11.1 µg/m³ here vs 11.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 here; 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
0% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Austin
Cel-shaded illustration of Austin
AQI 55
#14Austin~3 h drive

Texas· Moderate

A major Texas city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 11.1 µg/m³ here vs 11.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 here; 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
0% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Austin Webberville Road C171 monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Port Arthur
Cel-shaded illustration of Port Arthur
AQI 69
#15Port ArthurChecking road route

Texas· Moderate

Texas community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 18.8 µg/m³ here vs 11.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 18.8/22 × 7 = 6.0 here; 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Houston

69% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Trinity
Cel-shaded illustration of Trinity
AQI unavailable
#16TrinityChecking road route

Texas

Texas community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Silsbee
Cel-shaded illustration of Silsbee
AQI unavailable
#17SilsbeeChecking road route

Texas

Texas community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Jackson
Cel-shaded illustration of Jackson
AQI 33
#18JacksonChecking road route

Mississippi· Good

A major Mississippi city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

47% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5.9 µg/m³ here vs 11.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.9/22 × 7 = 1.9 here; 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.2 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Houston right now

47% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Jackson NCORE monitor.

Directions
Canton
Cel-shaded illustration of Canton
AQI 33
#19CantonChecking road route

Mississippi· Good

Mississippi community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

47% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5.9 µg/m³ here vs 11.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.9/22 × 7 = 1.9 here; 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.2 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Houston right now

47% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Jackson NCORE monitor.

Directions
Dilley
Cel-shaded illustration of Dilley
AQI 42
#20DilleyChecking road route

Texas· Good

Texas community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

32% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 7.6 µg/m³ here vs 11.1 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 7.6/22 × 7 = 2.4 here; 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Houston right now

32% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT · 49 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

More air-quality pages in Texas →
Amarillo air qualityArlington air qualityAustin air qualityBeaumont air qualityCorpus Christi air qualityDallas air qualityEl Paso air qualityFort Worth air qualityLaredo air qualityLubbock air qualityMcAllen air qualitySan Antonio air qualityWaco air quality
Air quality in nearby cities →
Lafayette air qualityShreveport air qualityBaton Rouge air qualityNew Orleans air qualityJackson air qualityLittle Rock air qualityOklahoma City air qualityMobile air qualityTulsa air qualityMemphis air qualityPensacola air qualitySpringfield air quality

What this means · Houston

Moderate

AQI 55

AQI = Air Quality Index

Typical person. Most people can stay active outside.

Kids, seniors, heart or lung conditions. Unusually sensitive people should consider shorter or easier outdoor effort.

The AQI on this page follows fine particles (PM2.5). Particles here are 11.1 µg/m³ (Elevated), so the headline and the particle scale below tell the same story.

Act two · Fine particles only

Where PM2.5 lands

This bar is smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) only. Left is cleaner air; right is heavier particle pollution. Today's particles sit in Elevated.

11.1 µg/m³
Clean · 0Smoky · 40Severe · 80+

Act three · Particle ladder

What each PM2.5 rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · Felt number

Cigarettes a week

A secondary feel for the particle load only — not a medical claim, and not a substitute for AQI.

3.5/wk

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 11.1 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →