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

Issued: Friday, May 29, 2026, 2:32 PM

Friday, light southwesterly winds will hinder dispersion and gradually transport pollutants into the Bayou State. However, as a weak upper-level trough passes over the region, isolated to scattered thunderstorms will enhance mixing and limit ozone production. These conditions will lead to high-Good to low-Moderate AQI levels in most cities, with high-Moderate AQI levels expected in Lake Charles and New Orleans. Saturday and Sunday, as a weak upper-level ridge of high pressure moves into the state, atmospheric mixing will decrease slightly. Furthermore, warm temperatures and partly to mostly sunny skies will aid ozone formation, while periods of light southerly to southwesterly surface winds will inhibit dispersion. These conditions will lead to low- to mid-Moderate AQI levels statewide on both days.

Baton Rouge

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 80 - Moderate 74 - Moderate 77 - Moderate
PM25 44 - Good 50 - Good 53 - Moderate

Alexandria

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 49 - Good 54 - Moderate 51 - Moderate
PM25 39 - Good 44 - Good 50 - Good

Lake Charles

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 90 - Moderate 87 - Moderate 74 - Moderate
PM25 50 - Good 50 - Good 44 - Good

Lafayette

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 61 - Moderate 51 - Moderate 58 - Moderate
PM25 28 - Good 33 - Good 39 - Good

Monroe

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 46 - Good 54 - Moderate 51 - Moderate
PM25 33 - Good 39 - Good 44 - Good

New Orleans

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 90 - Moderate 80 - Moderate 77 - Moderate
PM25 44 - Good 50 - Good 53 - Moderate

Shreveport

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 67 - Moderate 74 - Moderate 67 - Moderate
PM25 53 - Moderate 55 - Moderate 53 - Moderate

Thibodaux

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 46 - Good 54 - Moderate 51 - Moderate
PM25 28 - Good 39 - Good 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.