Dallas–Fort Worth is under an Ozone Action Day for Monday, June 1, 2026, after the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) warned that the day’s weather would brew unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone across North Texas.
The alert, relayed by the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, says atmospheric conditions are favorable for producing high levels of ozone air pollution across the metroplex. The advisory typically covers Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, Wise, Parker, Hood, Johnson, Ellis, Kaufman, Rockwall, Hunt and Henderson counties.
What an Ozone Action Day means
Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly. It forms when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — largely from vehicles, industry and fuels — cook in strong sunlight and high temperatures, which is why these alerts cluster in the warm season. Texas runs its ozone season from March 1 through November 30.
At elevated levels, ozone can irritate the lungs and aggravate asthma. Sensitive groups — children, older adults, and people with heart or respiratory conditions — feel the effects first, often as coughing, throat irritation or shortness of breath during outdoor activity.
Why DFW keeps hitting the threshold
North Texas has a chronic ozone problem. According to the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the region’s 2026 ozone design value stood at 82 parts per billion as of June 1, above the federal standard, with the highest monitor reading recorded in Frisco. Ozone is the only criteria pollutant for which the Dallas–Fort Worth region currently fails to meet federal air-quality standards, keeping the metroplex in “non-attainment” status.
State forecasters with the TCEQ have also flagged ozone concerns this season in the Austin, Houston, San Antonio and El Paso areas as summer heat builds.
How to lower the risk
Health officials advise sensitive residents to limit strenuous outdoor exertion during the afternoon and early evening, when ozone peaks. The National Weather Service suggests staying indoors when possible, keeping outdoor trips brief, and watching for symptoms.
Residents can also help cut the pollution itself. TCEQ and Air North Texas recommend carpooling, walking or biking, combining errands, avoiding drive-through lanes, refueling after dark, conserving electricity, and holding off on gas-powered mowers until the alert lifts. Real-time conditions are available through the EPA’s AirNow index, which color-codes air quality from green (good) to maroon (hazardous).