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

Issued: Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 2:35 PM

Tuesday, partly cloudy skies will hinder ozone development ahead of an approaching cold front. However, moderate southerly winds will carry thin-density smoke into western Louisiana. Therefore, AQI levels will be low-Moderate in Lake Charles and Shreveport, with Good to high-Good AQI levels expected over the rest of the state. Wednesday, increasing clouds and periods of rain will limit ozone formation and promote atmospheric mixing as the front gradually moves into the state. These conditions will yield Good to high-Good AQI levels statewide. Thursday, as the front gradually departs the state, easterly to northeasterly winds will disperse pollutants, leading to Good to high-Good AQI levels in central and northern Louisiana. In southern Louisiana, calm to light and variable winds will allow pollutants to build up, resulting in high-Good to low-Moderate AQI levels.

Baton Rouge

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 42 - Good 39 - Good 41 - Good
PM25 50 - Good 44 - Good 50 - Good

Alexandria

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 36 - Good 33 - Good 32 - Good
PM25 44 - Good 44 - Good 39 - Good

Lake Charles

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 36 - Good 33 - Good 35 - Good
PM25 55 - Moderate 50 - Good 53 - Moderate

Lafayette

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 37 - Good 34 - Good 36 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 33 - Good 44 - Good

Monroe

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 31 - Good 29 - Good 28 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 33 - Good 33 - Good

New Orleans

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 45 - Good 43 - Good 44 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 33 - Good 44 - Good

Shreveport

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 32 - Good 30 - Good 29 - Good
PM25 56 - Moderate 50 - Good 44 - Good

Thibodaux

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 40 - Good 37 - Good 38 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 33 - Good 44 - 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.