Air Monitoring Data & AQI

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

Issued: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 2:30 PM

Wednesday, a cold front approaching from the northwest will generate rain showers and moderate south-southeasterly winds across central and southern Louisiana, aiding dispersion. However, winds in the northern portion of Louisiana will inhibit dispersion, yielding high-Good to low-Moderate AQI levels in Shreveport and Monroe. For the remainder of the state, AQI levels will be Good to high-Good. Thursday, as the frontal boundary stalls over the state, calm to light northerly to northeasterly winds will inhibit pollutant dispersion. Furthermore, a morning temperature inversion will confine emissions near the surface. Therefore, AQI levels will be high-Good to low-Moderate statewide. Friday, as the front remains stationary over the state and surface high pressure builds to the north, moderate and gusty north-northeasterly winds will develop across much of Louisiana. However, winds in the southeastern portion of the state will remain calm to light easterly, allowing pollutants to build up and resulting in low-Moderate AQI levels in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Thibodaux. For the rest of the state, AQI levels will be Good.

Baton Rouge

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 45 - Good 42 - Good 41 - Good
PM25 44 - Good 55 - Moderate 56 - Moderate

Alexandria

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 33 - Good 31 - Good 29 - Good
PM25 33 - Good 50 - Good 33 - Good

Lake Charles

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 37 - Good 33 - Good 32 - Good
PM25 33 - Good 50 - Good 28 - Good

Lafayette

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 42 - Good 38 - Good 37 - Good
PM25 22 - Good 44 - Good 28 - Good

Monroe

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 31 - Good 29 - Good 28 - Good
PM25 44 - Good 50 - Good 22 - Good

New Orleans

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 44 - Good 40 - Good 39 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 53 - Moderate 55 - Moderate

Shreveport

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 28 - Good 25 - Good 24 - Good
PM25 55 - Moderate 55 - Moderate 39 - Good

Thibodaux

 Wednesday Thursday Friday
Ozone 42 - Good 38 - Good 37 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 53 - Moderate 55 - 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.