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New Orleans air right now

ModerateAQI 61

New Orleans’s five-day smoke forecast shows the current index and the clearest time ahead.

61
AQI now
14.5
PM2.5 · µg/m³
2 cleaner spots within 3 hr drive

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

Baton Rouge looks like the better move.21% cleaner air with a verified 1 h 35 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
New Orleans Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Baton Rouge
Cel-shaded illustration of Baton Rouge
AQI 55
#1Baton Rouge~1 h 35 min drive

Louisiana· Moderate

A major Louisiana city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

21% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 11.4 µg/m³ here vs 14.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 11.4/22 × 7 = 3.6 here; 14.5/22 × 7 = 4.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than New Orleans right now

21% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Capitol monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Gulfport
Cel-shaded illustration of Gulfport
AQI 59
#2Gulfport~1 h 30 min drive

Mississippi· Moderate

Mississippi Gulf Coast city with beach hotels and open-water air east of New Orleans.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 13.5 µg/m³ here vs 14.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 13.5/22 × 7 = 4.3 here; 14.5/22 × 7 = 4.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
7% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the GPORT YC monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Ocean Springs
Cel-shaded illustration of Ocean Springs
AQI 59
#3Ocean Springs~1 h 45 min drive

Mississippi· Moderate

Coastal arts town on the Mississippi Sound east of Biloxi, cooled by onshore Gulf air, with inns and B&Bs.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 13.5 µg/m³ here vs 14.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 13.5/22 × 7 = 4.3 here; 14.5/22 × 7 = 4.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
7% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the GPORT YC monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Bay St. Louis
Cel-shaded illustration of Bay St. Louis
AQI 61
#4Bay St. Louis~1 h 15 min drive

Mississippi· Moderate

Artsy beach town on a Mississippi-coast bay, exposed to open Gulf air, with inns and rentals near the water.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 14.2 µg/m³ here vs 14.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 14.2/22 × 7 = 4.5 here; 14.5/22 × 7 = 4.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
2% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the WAVELAND monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Belle Chasse
Cel-shaded illustration of Belle Chasse
AQI unavailable
#5Belle ChasseChecking road route

Louisiana

Louisiana community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Waggaman
Cel-shaded illustration of Waggaman
AQI unavailable
#6WaggamanChecking road route

Louisiana

Louisiana community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
River Ridge
Cel-shaded illustration of River Ridge
AQI unavailable
#7River RidgeChecking road route

Louisiana

Louisiana community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Meraux
Cel-shaded illustration of Meraux
AQI unavailable
#8MerauxChecking road route

Louisiana

Louisiana community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Kenner
Cel-shaded illustration of Kenner
AQI unavailable
#9KennerChecking road route

Louisiana

Louisiana community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Violet
Cel-shaded illustration of Violet
AQI unavailable
#10VioletChecking road route

Louisiana

Louisiana community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Poydras
Cel-shaded illustration of Poydras
AQI unavailable
#11PoydrasChecking road route

Louisiana

Louisiana community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Saint Rose
Cel-shaded illustration of Saint Rose
AQI unavailable
#12Saint RoseChecking road route

Louisiana

Louisiana community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
New Iberia
Cel-shaded illustration of New Iberia
AQI 52
#13New IberiaChecking road route

Louisiana· Moderate

Louisiana community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

33% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 9.7 µg/m³ here vs 14.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 here; 14.5/22 × 7 = 4.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than New Orleans right now

33% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Lafayette monitor.

Directions
Lafayette
Cel-shaded illustration of Lafayette
AQI 52
#14LafayetteChecking road route

Louisiana· Moderate

A major Louisiana city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

33% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 9.7 µg/m³ here vs 14.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 here; 14.5/22 × 7 = 4.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than New Orleans right now

33% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Lafayette monitor.

Directions
Mobile
Cel-shaded illustration of Mobile
AQI 55
#15Mobile~2 h 40 min drive

Alabama· Moderate

A major Alabama city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

23% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 11.1 µg/m³ here vs 14.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 11.1/22 × 7 = 3.5 here; 14.5/22 × 7 = 4.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than New Orleans right now

23% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Chickasaw monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Brookhaven
Cel-shaded illustration of Brookhaven
AQI 63
#16BrookhavenChecking road route

Mississippi· Moderate

Mississippi community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 15.4 µg/m³ here vs 14.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 15.4/22 × 7 = 4.9 here; 14.5/22 × 7 = 4.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
6% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Lumberton
Cel-shaded illustration of Lumberton
AQI unavailable
#17LumbertonChecking road route

Mississippi

Mississippi community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Tuscaloosa
Cel-shaded illustration of Tuscaloosa
AQI 3
#18TuscaloosaChecking road route

Alabama· Good

Alabama community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

96% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.6 µg/m³ here vs 14.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.6/22 × 7 = 0.2 here; 14.5/22 × 7 = 4.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

13.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than New Orleans right now

96% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Duncanville Middle School monitor.

Directions
Jackson
Cel-shaded illustration of Jackson
AQI 33
#19Jackson~3 h 30 min drive

Mississippi· Good

A major Mississippi city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

59% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5.9 µg/m³ here vs 14.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.9/22 × 7 = 1.9 here; 14.5/22 × 7 = 4.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

8.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than New Orleans right now

59% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Jackson NCORE monitor.

Directions
Canton
Cel-shaded illustration of Canton
AQI 33
#20CantonChecking road route

Mississippi· Good

Mississippi community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

59% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5.9 µg/m³ here vs 14.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.9/22 × 7 = 1.9 here; 14.5/22 × 7 = 4.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

8.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than New Orleans right now

59% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Jackson NCORE monitor.

Directions
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT · 49 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

More air-quality pages in Louisiana →
Baton Rouge air qualityLafayette air qualityShreveport air quality
Air quality in nearby cities →
Mobile air qualityJackson air qualityPensacola air qualityBeaumont air qualityMontgomery air qualityBirmingham air qualityHouston air qualityTallahassee air qualityLittle Rock air qualityMemphis air qualityAtlanta air qualityWaco air quality

What this means · New Orleans

Moderate

AQI 61

AQI = Air Quality Index

Typical person. Most people can stay active outside.

Kids, seniors, heart or lung conditions. Unusually sensitive people should consider shorter or easier outdoor effort.

The AQI on this page follows fine particles (PM2.5). Particles here are 14.5 µg/m³ (Elevated), so the headline and the particle scale below tell the same story.

Act two · Fine particles only

Where PM2.5 lands

This bar is smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) only. Left is cleaner air; right is heavier particle pollution. Today's particles sit in Elevated.

14.5 µg/m³
Clean · 0Smoky · 40Severe · 80+

Act three · Particle ladder

What each PM2.5 rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · Felt number

Cigarettes a week

A secondary feel for the particle load only — not a medical claim, and not a substitute for AQI.

4.6/wk

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 14.5 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 14.5/22 × 7 = 4.6 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →