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

Issued: Friday, April 17, 2026, 2:32 PM

Friday, increasing southerly winds will aid dispersion as a cold front strengthens over the southern Plains. However, these winds will continue to carry thin-density smoke into the state. Furthermore, patchy morning fog will enhance particle production, and periods of afternoon sunshine will aid ozone formation. Thus, AQI levels will remain high-Good to low-Moderate for most cities. Saturday, as the front gradually moves across Louisiana from the northwest, vertical mixing will increase. Additionally, increasing clouds and showers will reduce ozone formation. Furthermore, light to moderate south-southwesterly winds will shift to northerly in the afternoon and evening, dispersing pollutants. As a result, AQI levels will be Good across the northern part of the state and high-Good to low-Moderate for the remainder of the state. Sunday, light to moderate northeasterly winds behind the departing cold front will disperse pollutants and carry cleaner air across the Bayou State, leading to Good AQI levels statewide.

Baton Rouge

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 51 - Moderate 44 - Good 42 - Good
PM25 53 - Moderate 50 - Good 44 - Good

Alexandria

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 43 - Good 38 - Good 36 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 44 - Good 33 - Good

Lake Charles

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 38 - Good 36 - Good 34 - Good
PM25 53 - Moderate 50 - Good 44 - Good

Lafayette

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 45 - Good 39 - Good 38 - Good
PM25 44 - Good 44 - Good 39 - Good

Monroe

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 42 - Good 37 - Good 35 - Good
PM25 44 - Good 44 - Good 33 - Good

New Orleans

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 50 - Good 46 - Good 42 - Good
PM25 44 - Good 44 - Good 39 - Good

Shreveport

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 43 - Good 33 - Good 37 - Good
PM25 53 - Moderate 44 - Good 39 - Good

Thibodaux

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 41 - Good 37 - Good 36 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 44 - Good 39 - 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.