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

Issued: Monday, March 23, 2026, 2:30 PM

Monday, as a stationary front stalls over central Louisiana, periods of light northeasterly winds will aid pollutant dispersion. However, smoke from localized agricultural fires will impact particle concentrations in some areas. Therefore, AQI levels will range from Good to low-Moderate. Tuesday, northeasterly winds will shift to easterly to southeasterly and weaken in the afternoon, allowing regional pollutants and thin smoke to accumulate. In addition, partly to mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures will support ozone formation. As a result, AQI levels will be high-Good to low-Moderate. Wednesday, calm to light southerly to southeasterly winds will inhibit dispersion and allow pollutants to accumulate. Furthermore, mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low- to mid-80s will enhance ozone production. These conditions will yield low-Moderate AQI levels statewide.

Baton Rouge

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Ozone 41 - Good 47 - Good 54 - Moderate
PM25 50 - Good 55 - Moderate 56 - Moderate

Alexandria

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Ozone 35 - Good 42 - Good 46 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 50 - Good 53 - Moderate

Lake Charles

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Ozone 42 - Good 48 - Good 54 - Moderate
PM25 33 - Good 50 - Good 53 - Moderate

Lafayette

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Ozone 43 - Good 49 - Good 54 - Moderate
PM25 39 - Good 53 - Moderate 55 - Moderate

Monroe

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Ozone 34 - Good 41 - Good 45 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 44 - Good 53 - Moderate

New Orleans

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Ozone 44 - Good 50 - Good 64 - Moderate
PM25 39 - Good 53 - Moderate 55 - Moderate

Shreveport

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Ozone 38 - Good 44 - Good 49 - Good
PM25 53 - Moderate 55 - Moderate 55 - Moderate

Thibodaux

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Ozone 39 - Good 45 - Good 50 - Good
PM25 33 - Good 50 - Good 53 - 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.