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

Issued: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 2:30 PM

Saturday and Sunday, a strong ridge of high pressure aloft will hinder atmospheric mixing. In addition, smoke from agricultural fire activity will contribute to particle levels and ozone precursors. Furthermore, partly to mostly sunny skies and highs in the 80s will enhance ozone development, while periods of light winds limit dispersion. Therefore, AQI levels will be low- to mid-Moderate statewide on both days. Monday, increasing clouds will hinder ozone formation. However, light easterly winds will allow pollutants to accumulate during the morning and evening hours, leading to high-Good to low-Moderate AQI levels.

Baton Rouge

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 61 - Moderate 50 - Good 46 - Good
PM25 62 - Moderate 56 - Moderate 53 - Moderate

Alexandria

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 67 - Moderate 51 - Moderate 44 - Good
PM25 60 - Moderate 53 - Moderate 44 - Good

Lake Charles

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 61 - Moderate 54 - Moderate 49 - Good
PM25 56 - Moderate 53 - Moderate 44 - Good

Lafayette

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 71 - Moderate 58 - Moderate 50 - Good
PM25 64 - Moderate 58 - Moderate 53 - Moderate

Monroe

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 77 - Moderate 64 - Moderate 49 - Good
PM25 56 - Moderate 53 - Moderate 44 - Good

New Orleans

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 51 - Moderate 47 - Good 45 - Good
PM25 58 - Moderate 53 - Moderate 50 - Good

Shreveport

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 74 - Moderate 51 - Moderate 48 - Good
PM25 58 - Moderate 58 - Moderate 53 - Moderate

Thibodaux

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 50 - Good 46 - Good 44 - Good
PM25 58 - Moderate 53 - Moderate 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.