If you opened your phone’s weather app to an air quality alert this morning in Austin, you’re not alone — apps like the Apple Weather app, AccuWeather and IQAir have deemed the air quality “unhealthy for sensitive groups” Thursday.
Here’s what you need to know about the air quality in Austin on Thursday and what exactly makes it unhealthy.
The short answer: pollution.
According to AirNow, a government website sharing air quality data, air quality is essentially graded on an index from zero to 300+, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index (AQI). The numbers are calculated by the concentration of five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. The numbers coincide with categories: good, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy, very unhealthy and hazardous. The most extreme category — hazards — indicates emergency conditions, while the least extreme — good — indicates that air pollution poses little or no risk to the public.
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Thursday’s AQI is well over 100, according to multiple weather sources, meaning it’s unhealthy for sensitive groups and experts are encouraging folks to stay indoors as much as possible.
AccuWeather cites PM2.5 as “fine particulate matter,” meaning small pollutant particles with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers. These particles can be inhaled and enter the lungs and bloodstream.
“The most severe impacts are on the lungs and heart,” the AccuWeather website reads. “Exposure can result in coughing or difficulty breathing, aggravated asthma, and the development of chronic respiratory disease.”
According to experts at McGill University in Canada, PM2.5 is the type of air pollution that kills the most people worldwide. Experts have called for worldwide air quality standards to prevent what they say are “preventable” deaths from inhaling PM2.5 particles.
According to the American Lung Association, Austin is high-risk for ozone pollution. A 2025 study gave Travis County a failing grade for the number of high ozone days, as well as for average annual particle pollution. The study gave Travis County a “B” grade for 24-hour particle pollution, meaning the area averaged fewer unhealthy air days due to PM2.5 particles. But the bad days outweighed the good ones, earning Travis County an “F” overall for annual particle pollution. The American Lung Association notes that its methodology differs from the EPA’s AQI.
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IQAir cites the following tips for unhealthy air quality days:
Texas police have released the mugshot of one of the three juveniles arrested over the weekend in connection with 12 separate shooting incidents across Austin that injured four people, as well as a timeline of the alleged 28-hour rampage.
Cristian Fajardo Mondragon, 17, was taken into custody Sunday after allegedly partaking in a citywide shooting spree that left four people injured, struck two fire stations and triggered a shelter-in-place order in South Austin, the Austin Police Department said in a statement.
Mondragon was arrested alongside two additional suspects, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old, police said. Their names have not been released due to a statewide law regarding what information can be made public involving juvenile suspects.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 11:30 a.m.
Officers received a report of a stolen firearm from a local business. Surveillance footage subsequently revealed the vehicle driven by the suspects had also recently been stolen, according to authorities.
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Saturday, May 16, 2026, 3:58 p.m.
Less than five hours later, authorities confirmed the first alleged shooting at a trailer residence. However, no injuries were reported.
Cristian Fajardo Mondragon, 17, is one of three suspects accused in an overnight crime spree involving 12 shootings throughout Austin, Texas, on May 16, 2026. Austin Police Department
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 4:30 p.m.
Officers responded to another shooting at the Whisper Hollow apartment complex, in which multiple vehicles and an occupied apartment were struck by gunfire. Witness descriptions and surveillance footage of the suspects led authorities to believe the two shootings were connected.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 6:08 p.m.
Approximately two hours later, a third shooting was reported after witnesses observed a suspect wearing a black hoodie exiting a black sedan at another apartment complex and firing through the door of a third-floor unit, police said.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 7 p.m.
Authorities said that a group of suspects matching previous surveillance footage of the alleged shootings stole a Hyundai Elantra from a Motel 6 parking lot, with another shooting being reported just 90 minutes later.
Surveillance footage released by Austin police shows a suspect investigators said was involved in multiple shooting incidents across Austin. Austin Police Department
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 8:49 p.m.
Authorities said a suspect fired a gun into an Austin Fire Department station while firefighters were inside. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
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Saturday, May 16, 2026, 8:55 p.m.
Just six minutes later, authorities received a report that suspects matching the same description had fired shots from their vehicle and struck the windshield of an occupied car. One victim inside the vehicle was injured by broken glass, according to police.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 3:50 a.m.
Police said the suspects allegedly stole another vehicle, with authorities discovering a previous vehicle containing bullet damage abandoned near 1800 E. Stassney Lane hours later.
Austin police shared a photo of a white Kia sedan believed to be stolen in connection with 12 shootings throughout Austin, Texas, on May 16, 2026. X / @Austin_Police
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 8:46 a.m.
Authorities received a report regarding a victim who had been shot in the back and stomach near 7409 Janes Ranch Road by a suspect matching previous witness descriptions surrounding the alleged shootings.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 9 a.m.
Shortly after, officers recovered several other stolen vehicles believed to be connected to the alleged shooting spree.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 10:46 a.m
A second incident involving shots being fired into another Austin Fire Department station was reported to authorities, with the suspects allegedly stealing yet another vehicle — a white Kia Optima — three hours later.
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Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:44 p.m.
Authorities said two victims were shot in a drive-by shooting involving a white Kia Optima, with two additional shootings being reported within 20 minutes.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 2:29 p.m.
Authorities said surveillance footage showed a white Kia sedan approaching a victim before the individual fell to the ground with an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was subsequently transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis speaks during a press conference alongside city officials following a series of shootings across Austin. Austin Police Department / YouTube
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 3:23 p.m.
About one hour later, officers with the Manor Police Department spotted the Kia sedan believed to be connected to the alleged shootings, prompting a pursuit in which the three suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
One suspect was immediately detained, with authorities taking the other two individuals into custody separately after a brief search.
The incidents led to the injuries of four people and five vehicles being stolen, police said.
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“At this time, investigators believe the incidents were a mix of random and targeted shootings,” APD said in a statement. “Some victims were known to the suspects, while other incidents appeared to occur without any known connection.”
Davis went on to describe the investigation as “complex” because of the sheer number of crime scenes, stolen vehicles and random shootings throughout the city.
Formal charges against the three suspects remain under review, but are expected to include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault/motor vehicle, deadly conduct, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest, theft of a firearm and other related offenses, APD said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Austin Police Department for comment.
The second-busiest commercial air carrier at Harry Reid International Airport is expanding service to and from Austin, Texas.
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Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines will double the number of daily flights to and from the Texas capital to two beginning in the fall.
Demand for trips to Austin, which calls itself “The Live Music Capital of the World” and features multiple music festivals all year, including March’s SWSX multimedia event, is growing, according to Delta. The airline said it expects both markets will benefit from the service expansion.
Delta competes on the route with market leader Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air.
Police release new footage of gunman who opened fire at Austin bar
Police released new CCTV and body cam footage of the gunman who opened fire at an Austin bar.
Three juvenile individuals are in custody following a weekend crime spree of 12 shootings that left four people injured and multiple car thefts in Austin, Texas.
The crimes occurred starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, and ended on Sunday, May 17, resulting in the arrest of a 15-year-old, a 17-year-old and a third individual, Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis said Sunday, May 17.
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“The 17-year-old has a warrant for his arrest for a theft of a gun from the same store the 15-year-old stole a gun from,” Davis said at a news conference.
The string of crimes started when Austin PD was first notified of a stolen vehicle from an apartment complex, followed by the theft of a firearm. Following that, Davis said an estimated 20 service calls were received in the South and Southeast Austin areas regarding the individuals.
“Two times they fired at a firehouse and struck a truck,” Davis said. “Into apartment buildings where officers had to go door to door, ensuring that everyone was safe.”
In total, two separate fire houses, several buildings and apartment complexes were fired upon by the individuals, in addition to four vehicles being stolen.
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Of the four individuals injured, three have been confirmed to have sustained non-life-threatening injuries, with the fourth sustaining critical injuries.
Police were able to connect these events to the three individuals, but Davis said there is no known motive for the series of events.
The crime spree concluded when Manor PD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that the individuals were driving. The individuals fled, but two of them were apprehended on Sunday.
Following the news conference, the Manor Police Department announced a third individual — a juvenile — who had fled the vehicle earlier on Sunday had been detained with no ongoing threat to the public.
Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement on social media calling the individuals dangerous.
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“If they are ever released from jail, they will surely harm again,” Abbott said. “The DA & Court must do their job and keep these criminals behind bars.”
Anyone with information should contact the Aggravated Assault Unit at 512-974-5177 or submit tips anonymously through austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.
