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

Issued: Saturday, July 18, 2026, 2:32 PM

Saturday, ridging aloft will reduce atmospheric mixing over Louisiana. Furthermore, light surface winds will hinder dispersion and allow a broad plume of Saharan dust to linger across the state. These conditions will result in low- to mid-Moderate AQI levels statewide. Sunday and Monday, calm to light winds throughout much of the period will continue to inhibit dispersion and allow Saharan dust to persist over the state. In addition, temperature inversions each morning will trap pollutants near the ground. Thus, AQI levels will remain low- to mid-Moderate on both days.

Baton Rouge

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 37 - Good 34 - Good 33 - Good
PM25 73 - Moderate 77 - Moderate 79 - Moderate

Alexandria

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 30 - Good 27 - Good 26 - Good
PM25 62 - Moderate 68 - Moderate 69 - Moderate

Lake Charles

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 33 - Good 32 - Good 31 - Good
PM25 62 - Moderate 77 - Moderate 79 - Moderate

Lafayette

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 27 - Good 24 - Good 23 - Good
PM25 60 - Moderate 66 - Moderate 68 - Moderate

Monroe

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 25 - Good 22 - Good 21 - Good
PM25 60 - Moderate 64 - Moderate 66 - Moderate

New Orleans

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 36 - Good 33 - Good 32 - Good
PM25 69 - Moderate 73 - Moderate 75 - Moderate

Shreveport

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 29 - Good 24 - Good 23 - Good
PM25 71 - Moderate 82 - Moderate 77 - Moderate

Thibodaux

 Saturday Sunday Monday
Ozone 26 - Good 23 - Good 22 - Good
PM25 58 - Moderate 62 - Moderate 64 - 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.