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

Issued: Friday, August 14, 2026, 2:33 PM

Friday through Sunday, light southerly to southwesterly winds will limit dispersion and gradually transport Saharan dust into the Bayou State, increasing particle concentrations. In addition, an upper-level ridge of high pressure will limit atmospheric mixing. These conditions will result in low- to mid-Moderate AQI levels statewide on all three days.

Baton Rouge

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 40 - Good 45 - Good 47 - Good
PM25 64 - Moderate 75 - Moderate 66 - Moderate

Alexandria

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 28 - Good 34 - Good 35 - Good
PM25 75 - Moderate 68 - Moderate 71 - Moderate

Lake Charles

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 31 - Good 35 - Good 39 - Good
PM25 77 - Moderate 81 - Moderate 71 - Moderate

Lafayette

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 32 - Good 33 - Good 38 - Good
PM25 60 - Moderate 66 - Moderate 60 - Moderate

Monroe

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 25 - Good 31 - Good 33 - Good
PM25 79 - Moderate 68 - Moderate 71 - Moderate

New Orleans

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 42 - Good 48 - Good 50 - Good
PM25 64 - Moderate 73 - Moderate 66 - Moderate

Shreveport

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 30 - Good 38 - Good 41 - Good
PM25 81 - Moderate 71 - Moderate 75 - Moderate

Thibodaux

 Friday Saturday Sunday
Ozone 30 - Good 36 - Good 38 - Good
PM25 58 - Moderate 64 - Moderate 58 - 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.