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

Issued: Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 2:32 PM

Wednesday, partly to mostly cloudy skies will limit ozone development over much of the Bayou State. Furthermore, scattered showers and thunderstorms will enhance atmospheric mixing, especially over the western portion of the state. However, easterly to southeasterly winds will transport thin regional smoke into Louisiana, raising particle concentrations. Therefore, AQI levels will be low-Moderate in most cities. Thursday, south-southeasterly winds will strengthen slightly as a low-pressure system develops over the Plains, enhancing pollutant dispersion. Additionally, scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue to inhibit ozone formation. As a result, AQI levels will be high-Good in most locations. Friday, as a cold front gradually passes just north of Louisiana, periods of moderate south-southwesterly winds will keep pollutants well dispersed. Furthermore, mostly cloudy skies and scattered thunderstorms will limit ozone production. These conditions will yield Good to high-Good AQI levels.

Baton Rouge

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 51 - Moderate 47 - Good 43 - Good
PM25 58 - Moderate 50 - Good 44 - Good

Alexandria

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 46 - Good 42 - Good 37 - Good
PM25 55 - Moderate 44 - Good 39 - Good

Lake Charles

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 44 - Good 43 - Good 42 - Good
PM25 56 - Moderate 50 - Good 39 - Good

Lafayette

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 49 - Good 44 - Good 42 - Good
PM25 55 - Moderate 44 - Good 39 - Good

Monroe

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 50 - Good 44 - Good 40 - Good
PM25 55 - Moderate 44 - Good 33 - Good

New Orleans

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 51 - Moderate 44 - Good 42 - Good
PM25 53 - Moderate 50 - Good 39 - Good

Shreveport

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 41 - Good 37 - Good 35 - Good
PM25 64 - Moderate 50 - Good 44 - Good

Thibodaux

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 50 - Good 42 - Good 37 - Good
PM25 50 - Good 39 - Good 33 - 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.