Issued on: September 18, 2026
Hot southerly breezes will continue to bring northward Saharan dust.  Meanwhile, a lack of rain desiccates vegetation, leaves little water to evaporate, and allows incoming solar radiation to heat the surface very effectively.  Therefore, very high fire danger persists, and any fires may produce locally unhealthy smoke.  Sufficient moisture aloft, steady breezes, and diurnal cumulus convection in the afternoon will limit ozone to the moderate category.  Meanwhile, monsoonal moisture will bring scattered rain showers to the Panhandle through the forecast period.  Early next week, a cold front will spread isolated thunderstorms to the rest of the state, and temperatures will drop significantly but stay above normal.  Afterward, a frontal inversion may keep ozone near the surface despite episodic sunshine.