Air Monitoring Data & AQI

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Ozone and PM2.5 Air Quality Index (AQI) Forecast

Issued: Friday, May 27, 2022, 2:30 PM

Friday, mostly sunny skies and temperatures around 85-90F will aid ozone formation across the Bayou State, while lingering smoke from regional burning will enhance ozone production. Therefore, despite moderate and gusty northwesterly winds aiding dispersion in the latter portion of the day, AQI levels will be mid- to high-Moderate in southern Louisiana, with Good AQI levels elsewhere. Saturday and Sunday, upper-level high pressure moving across the state will reduce atmospheric mixing. At the surface, light and variable winds will hinder dispersion, while sunny skies and warm temperatures promote ozone formation. Additionally, smoke transport from the Gulf of Mexico will continue to enhance ozone production. Thus, AQI levels will be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups on both days for Baton Rouge and New Orleans, with Moderate AQI levels elsewhere.

Baton Rouge

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 93 - Moderate 108 - Unhealthy for sensitive groups 105 - Unhealthy for sensitive groups
PM25 38 - Good 50 - Good 53 - Moderate

Alexandria

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 49 - Good 74 - Moderate 67 - Moderate
PM25 25 - Good 42 - Good 46 - Good

Lake Charles

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 67 - Moderate 87 - Moderate 84 - Moderate
PM25 33 - Good 50 - Good 55 - Moderate

Lafayette

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 80 - Moderate 100 - Moderate 97 - Moderate
PM25 33 - Good 46 - Good 50 - Good

Monroe

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 44 - Good 54 - Moderate 51 - Moderate
PM25 21 - Good 38 - Good 42 - Good

New Orleans

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 100 - Moderate 105 - Unhealthy for sensitive groups 101 - Unhealthy for sensitive groups
PM25 29 - Good 42 - Good 46 - Good

Shreveport

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 45 - Good 58 - Moderate 54 - Moderate
PM25 25 - Good 38 - Good 53 - Moderate

Thibodaux

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 74 - Moderate 93 - Moderate 90 - Moderate
PM25 33 - Good 46 - Good 50 - Good

More Information About Understanding AQI Information

The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or unhealthy your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern. The AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a few hours or days after breathing unhealthy air. The following chart provides information regarding the AQI determinations:

Category AQI Value What This Means
Good 0-50 Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
Moderate 51-100 Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 101-150 Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
Unhealthy 151-200 Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
Very Unhealthy 201-300 Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
Hazardous 301-500 Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects.

Any questions about interpreting this monitoring data should be directed to the DEQ Customer Services Section at 1-866-896-5337.

TO REPORT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, INCLUDING ODORS, CONTACT THE DEQ SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT (SPOC) - 225-219-3640 or Toll Free 1-888-763-5424. In the event of an environmental emergency, citizens are encouraged to first contact their local authorities - police, sheriff, fire department, etc. Otherwise citizens and the regulated community can contact the SPOC line to report environmental concerns during business hours, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at the number listed above. To report a concern outside of business hours call 225-342-1234 or the toll free number. Concerns include spills, releases, odors, fish kills, open burning, waste tires and any other types of environmental incidents. Citizens can report the incident online.

The data has not been quality reviewed or validated. Continuous PM2.5 readings shown are not NAAQS comparable.