Air Monitoring Data & AQI

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

Issued: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 2:33 PM

Tuesday, lingering smoke from regional agricultural fires will increase particle concentrations, especially over southern Louisiana. Furthermore, a morning inversion will confine pollutants to the lower levels of the atmosphere. In addition, a broad area of surface high pressure to the northeast will produce light easterly to southeasterly winds, hindering pollutant dispersion. As a result, AQI levels will be high-Good across northern and central Louisiana and low- to mid-Moderate over most of southern Louisiana. Wednesday, as a cold front advances into northern Louisiana and stalls, atmospheric mixing will increase. In addition, strengthening southerly to southeasterly winds will enhance dispersion over the southern and central portions of the state. However, pollutant carryover from Tuesday will lead to high-Good to low-Moderate AQI levels in most cities. Thursday, as the frontal boundary gradually progresses southward, rain showers will continue to enhance mixing. Furthermore, light northeasterly winds will carry clean air into the northern half of the state. However, calm to light winds will limit dispersion over southern Louisiana, allowing pollutants to build up. As a result, AQI levels will be Good to low-Moderate.

Baton Rouge

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 43 - Good 36 - Good 34 - Good
PM25 75 - Moderate 58 - Moderate 60 - Moderate

Alexandria

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 39 - Good 34 - Good 33 - Good
PM25 50 - Good 39 - Good 44 - Good

Lake Charles

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 44 - Good 36 - Good 35 - Good
PM25 39 - Good 44 - Good 50 - Good

Lafayette

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 41 - Good 35 - Good 33 - Good
PM25 44 - Good 44 - Good 50 - Good

Monroe

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 33 - Good 31 - Good 30 - Good
PM25 50 - Good 39 - Good 39 - Good

New Orleans

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 40 - Good 34 - Good 33 - Good
PM25 71 - Moderate 53 - Moderate 56 - Moderate

Shreveport

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 37 - Good 33 - Good 32 - Good
PM25 50 - Good 44 - Good 44 - Good

Thibodaux

 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ozone 38 - Good 34 - Good 32 - Good
PM25 55 - Moderate 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.