Air Monitoring Data & AQI

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

Issued: Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 2:30 PM

New Year's Eve, a surface ridge of high pressure over the northern Gulf will produce periods of light westerly to west-southwesterly winds, limiting dispersion. Additionally, increased emissions related to the holiday and smoke from numerous agricultural fires will contribute to particle concentrations, while a temperature inversion confines pollutants near the surface during the evening. As a result, AQI levels will be high-Good to low-Moderate in most locations, with mid-Moderate AQI levels anticipated in Lake Charles. New Year's Day, a morning temperature inversion will trap pollutants and holiday emissions at ground level. Furthermore, light westerly to southwesterly winds will inhibit dispersion, allowing pollutants to accumulate. These conditions, combined with carryover from the previous day, will yield low- to mid-Moderate AQI levels in most locations. Friday, moderate and gusty southwesterly winds will enhance dispersion as a surface low-pressure system passes through northern Louisiana. In addition, scattered rain showers will aid atmospheric mixing, leading to Good AQI levels statewide.

Baton Rouge

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 38 - Good 42 - Good 32 - Good
PM25 62 - Moderate 66 - Moderate 39 - Good

Alexandria

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 35 - Good 36 - Good 34 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 53 - Moderate 33 - Good

Lake Charles

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 32 - Good 37 - Good 32 - Good
PM25 77 - Moderate 53 - Moderate 33 - Good

Lafayette

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 37 - Good 39 - Good 31 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 39 - Good 28 - Good

Monroe

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 34 - Good 37 - Good 31 - Good
PM25 50 - Good 53 - Moderate 39 - Good

New Orleans

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 34 - Good 39 - Good 32 - Good
PM25 62 - Moderate 68 - Moderate 28 - Good

Shreveport

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 31 - Good 35 - Good 32 - Good
PM25 50 - Good 58 - Moderate 44 - Good

Thibodaux

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 34 - Good 38 - Good 31 - Good
PM25 53 - Moderate 39 - Good 28 - 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.