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

Issued: Friday, August 28, 2026, 2:33 PM

Friday and Saturday, light northerly to northeasterly winds will gradually transport thin smoke into the Bayou State, contributing to particle levels and ozone precursors. Furthermore, mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-90s will enhance ozone development. Therefore, despite isolated to scattered thunderstorms limiting ozone formation, AQI levels will be low-Moderate in most cities on both days. Sunday, as surface low pressure moves inland from the central Gulf, increasing clouds and scattered thunderstorms will inhibit ozone formation over southeastern Louisiana. However, light easterly winds will allow pollutants to accumulate over the Bayou State. Additionally, mostly sunny skies over northern and western Louisiana will continue to support ozone production. As a result, AQI levels will be high-Good to low-Moderate in most cities.

Baton Rouge

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 67 - Moderate 77 - Moderate 49 - Good
PM25 53 - Moderate 56 - Moderate 53 - Moderate

Alexandria

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 58 - Moderate 64 - Moderate 51 - Moderate
PM25 53 - Moderate 56 - Moderate 53 - Moderate

Lake Charles

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 58 - Moderate 67 - Moderate 64 - Moderate
PM25 44 - Good 55 - Moderate 53 - Moderate

Lafayette

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 58 - Moderate 64 - Moderate 45 - Good
PM25 44 - Good 53 - Moderate 50 - Good

Monroe

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 50 - Good 54 - Moderate 51 - Moderate
PM25 55 - Moderate 56 - Moderate 53 - Moderate

New Orleans

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 49 - Good 67 - Moderate 46 - Good
PM25 50 - Good 56 - Moderate 50 - Good

Shreveport

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 71 - Moderate 74 - Moderate 67 - Moderate
PM25 55 - Moderate 58 - Moderate 56 - Moderate

Thibodaux

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 46 - Good 51 - Moderate 46 - Good
PM25 50 - Good 53 - Moderate 50 - 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.