January 29, 2008
Dust Storm in Texas, Florida Fires, and AQI Improvements
Intense winds create a major dust storm in central Texas (left image; credit: NOAA OSEI). NOAA NWS (National Weather Service) provides a map of warnings and advisories (right image). I’m also including a plot of the latest surface analysis (bottom left image - credit: NOAA NWS). Air quality conditions are currently good in this region; only Brownsville-McAllen and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas have moderate AQI. EPA AIRNow forecasts moderate PM10 levels in Lubbock, Texas tomorrow.
 |  |
Click here for the NOAA NWS weather forecast.
Several fires are present in Florida. I’ve outlined most of the plumes with a red circle. The most intense plume is visible in Northern Florida (Jacksonville, Florida) near route 10.
*Image credit
Air quality conditions have improved (somewhat) in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest, but are worse in the Northeast. The AQI ranges from moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups in this region (see below). The polluted air mass that was above the Midwest yesterday has probably moved over the Northeast.
