Outdoor exercise
Is it safe to run in Houston today?
Live AQI and the best running window for Houston based on Open-Meteo hourly forecasts.
Running today
Yes — generally safe for outdoor running
Current conditions are good for outdoor running, including longer or higher-intensity sessions. Sensitive groups — young children, older adults, and people with asthma or heart conditions — can generally exercise outdoors as normal, but it is still worth checking the hourly forecast below in case conditions shift later in the day.
Current AQI in Houston
73
Fair
Updated 20 Jul 2026, 11:00
Best window to run (next 12h)
21:00 – 22:00 · lowest ~62 AQI
Hourly AQI (next 12 hours)
Now
99
12:00
97
13:00
94
14:00
91
15:00
86
16:00
78
17:00
71
18:00
67
19:00
65
20:00
63
21:00
62
22:00
62
What affects air quality for runners in Houston
Houston's air quality reflects a sprawling highway network, port and petrochemical activity, and hot Gulf Coast summers that favour ozone formation. Nitrogen dioxide rises along major freeways, while afternoon ozone can climb across wide areas on sunny days even when particle levels look moderate.