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

Issued: Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 2:30 PM

Tuesday, warm temperatures will aid ozone production in the Bayou State. However, increasing clouds will limit ozone development as a cold front approaches from the north. Additionally, moderate southerly winds will disperse pollutants. Thus, AQI levels will be high-Good to low-Moderate in most locations, with mid-Moderate AQI levels expected in New Orleans. Wednesday, as a cold front enters northern Louisiana and advances southward, clouds and scattered thunderstorms will reduce ozone production. However, southerly winds ahead of the front may carry thin smoke from the Gulf into the state. These conditions will yield high-Good to low-Moderate AQI levels. Thursday, as the cold front moves into southern Louisiana, lingering clouds and showers will continue to limit ozone formation. Furthermore, north-northeasterly winds behind the front will gradually bring cleaner air into the state. These conditions will lower AQI levels to Good to high-Good.

Baton Rouge

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 51 - Moderate 49 - Good 36 - Good
PM25 44 - Good 50 - Good 39 - Good

Alexandria

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 46 - Good 39 - Good 37 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 44 - Good 33 - Good

Lake Charles

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 39 - Good 40 - Good 35 - Good
PM25 44 - Good 53 - Moderate 39 - Good

Lafayette

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 43 - Good 41 - Good 34 - Good
PM25 33 - Good 44 - Good 33 - Good

Monroe

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 41 - Good 32 - Good 38 - Good
PM25 33 - Good 39 - Good 28 - Good

New Orleans

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 77 - Moderate 51 - Moderate 39 - Good
PM25 50 - Good 50 - Good 39 - Good

Shreveport

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 40 - Good 35 - Good 41 - Good
PM25 50 - Good 50 - Good 33 - Good

Thibodaux

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 44 - Good 39 - Good 35 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 44 - 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.