You wake up, look out the window at the San Antonio skyline, and everything seems fine. The sun is hitting the Tower of the Americas, the sky is that specific shade of South Texas blue, and your weather app gives you a green light. "Good." That's the word of the day for San Antonio air quality today, January 16, 2026.
But if you’ve lived here long enough, you know "Good" can be a bit of a loaded term.
Right now, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is sitting comfortably in the low 20s to 30s across most of Bexar County. According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), we are seeing low levels of both ozone and particulate matter. It’s the kind of day where you actually should take that walk on the Riverwalk or finally hit the trails at Friedrich Wilderness Park without worrying about your lungs.
Still, there's a reason San Antonio is under the microscope for its air.
The Ground-Level Truth About Our Air
While today is a win for our respiratory systems, we can't ignore the fact that San Antonio is currently classified as being in "Serious Nonattainment" for the 2015 federal ozone standards. That’s a fancy government way of saying we fail the test more often than we should.
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Ozone isn't just that layer way up in the atmosphere protecting us from the sun. When it's down here at ground level, it's basically "sunburned air." It happens when nitrogen oxides (from our endless I-10 traffic) mix with volatile organic compounds in the Texas heat.
Today, we got lucky. A cold front is pushing through the region, bringing gusty north winds—sometimes hitting 35 mph. These winds act like a giant fan, blowing the stagnant pollutants away.
Why today feels different
Honestly, the weather is doing us a massive favor. The National Weather Service in New Braunfels has actually flagged today for "elevated fire weather" because it’s so dry and breezy. While that’s bad for fire risk, it’s great for clearing out the haze.
The main pollutants we track here are:
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- Ozone (O3): Very low today because, frankly, it’s January and not 100 degrees.
- PM2.5: These are the tiny particles from car exhaust and construction. They're sitting at around 3-5 µg/m³ right now. Super low.
- Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2): Hovering near 14 ppb. For context, that’s well within the "safe" zone.
The "Sensitive Groups" Paradox
Even on a "Good" day, some people still feel it. If you have chronic asthma or COPD, you might notice that the San Antonio air quality today feels slightly "heavy" near the I-35 and I-10 interchange. Traffic density in the urban core means the AQI near Dolorosa or the Northwest station can be ten points higher than out in Hill Country.
I’ve talked to locals who swear they can "smell" the air quality change when they drive from Stone Oak down to the South Side. They aren't imagining it. Micro-climates are real.
The TCEQ forecast for the rest of the week looks solid, but they are watching for "light density residual smoke" from agricultural burning in Central Texas. If that smoke drifts our way as the winds die down tonight, we might see a slight bump into the "Moderate" yellow zone by tomorrow morning.
What Most People Get Wrong About San Antonio Pollen
You can't talk about air quality in this city without mentioning the "Cedar Fever" monster.
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Right now, Mountain Cedar (Ashe Juniper) is in its peak season. Even when the AQI is "Good," your body might tell you the air is "Toxic."
- AQI measures chemical pollution (smoke, smog, gas).
- Pollen counts measure biological irritants.
It is entirely possible to have the cleanest chemical air in the country while simultaneously feeling like your head is filled with wet concrete because of the cedar counts. Don't let a "Green" AQI rating trick you into leaving your antihistamines at home if you're a cedar sufferer.
Navigating the Rest of the Day
If you are planning outdoor activities, the window between now and sunset is your best bet. The cold front is keeping things moving. As we head into Sunday, the NWS is predicting a widespread freeze. Cold air tends to "trap" pollutants near the ground—a process called an inversion—but because our background levels are so low right now, we don't expect a major smog event.
Actionable Steps for San Antonians Today:
- Ventilate: It’s actually a great day to open the windows for 20 minutes and flush out indoor air pollutants.
- Exercise: High-intensity outdoor workouts are safe today for everyone, including those with sensitive lungs.
- Watch the wind: If you’re near a construction site or a dirt lot, the 30+ mph gusts will kick up dust (PM10). Wear glasses to avoid getting grit in your eyes.
- Check the station: Don't just look at the "San Antonio" average. Check the specific monitor closest to you. The Northwest station (near UTSA) often has different readings than the Calaveras Lake monitor.
San Antonio’s struggle with air quality is a long-term battle involving urban sprawl and transport emissions. We have until September 2027 to meet the "Serious Nonattainment" deadline, or the EPA might start cracking down on local industry and gas regulations even harder.
But for today? Just breathe. The air is about as clear as it gets in the Alamo City.
Next Steps for Your Health:
Keep an eye on the TCEQ "Today's Texas Air Quality Forecast" if you plan on being out late tonight. The arrival of the cold front's tail end could bring in a small plume of particulate matter from northern agricultural burns. If you start sneezing more than usual, remember it’s likely the Ashe Juniper, not the smog. Stay hydrated and keep your HEPA filters running if you’re sensitive to those winter spores.