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

Issued: Sunday, March 22, 2026, 2:32 PM

Sunday, moderate and gusty southwesterly winds will aid dispersion as a weak cold front approaches from the north. However, a ridge of high pressure aloft will limit mixing while warm temperatures and partly sunny skies aid ozone development. These conditions will lead to high-Good to low-Moderate AQI levels. Monday, as the front stalls over central Louisiana, calm to light southwesterly winds will hinder dispersion over southern portions of the state. North of the front, calm to light northeasterly winds will hinder dispersion and transport thin regional smoke into northern Louisiana. Furthermore, partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s will promote ozone production. Therefore, AQI levels will range from high-Good to mid-Moderate. Tuesday, light northeasterly to light southerly winds will recirculate thin regional smoke across the state as a broad surface ridge of high pressure develops over the Deep South. In addition, partly sunny skies and warm temperatures will continue to support ozone formation. As a result, AQI levels will be low-Moderate statewide.

Baton Rouge

 Sunday Monday Tuesday
Ozone 46 - Good 67 - Moderate 58 - Moderate
PM25 44 - Good 55 - Moderate 58 - Moderate

Alexandria

 Sunday Monday Tuesday
Ozone 42 - Good 40 - Good 44 - Good
PM25 44 - Good 53 - Moderate 56 - Moderate

Lake Charles

 Sunday Monday Tuesday
Ozone 40 - Good 44 - Good 43 - Good
PM25 44 - Good 53 - Moderate 55 - Moderate

Lafayette

 Sunday Monday Tuesday
Ozone 44 - Good 44 - Good 48 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 44 - Good 53 - Moderate

Monroe

 Sunday Monday Tuesday
Ozone 40 - Good 44 - Good 46 - Good
PM25 55 - Moderate 62 - Moderate 60 - Moderate

New Orleans

 Sunday Monday Tuesday
Ozone 51 - Moderate 77 - Moderate 61 - Moderate
PM25 39 - Good 53 - Moderate 56 - Moderate

Shreveport

 Sunday Monday Tuesday
Ozone 39 - Good 42 - Good 48 - Good
PM25 50 - Good 58 - Moderate 62 - Moderate

Thibodaux

 Sunday Monday Tuesday
Ozone 42 - Good 45 - Good 49 - Good
PM25 33 - Good 50 - Good 53 - Moderate

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.