Houston's Ozone Status Is a Real Health Signal, Not a Daily Forecast

Ground-level ozone can bother the lungs and make asthma worse. In 2024, EPA moved the six-county Houston area from moderate to serious nonattainment for the 2015 ozone rule. That label tracks the region over time. It does not mean every day or every place has the same air.

Check TCEQ monitors or the AirNow index for today's air. Each index level comes with health advice. People who are more at risk should follow that advice. A live check is most useful before hard outdoor exercise.