Worst air pollution New Orleans, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in New Orleans is fair. AQI, PM10, and O3 are fair; PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 29.8/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in New Orleans is fair. PM10 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 26.5/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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New Orleans' air quality reflects its position in the lower Mississippi industrial corridor, with petrochemical and refinery emissions from the River Road plants upwind and heavy port traffic generating elevated PM2.5 and SO₂ alongside vehicle emissions from the I-10 and I-610 beltway. The flat Gulf Coast terrain and consistent Gulf breezes provide reasonable ventilation on most days.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 11:00
AQI:
Fair
29.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
18.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
26.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
29.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Fair
26.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
15.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
26.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.2/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in New Orleans right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in New Orleans is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 29.8/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 29.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in New Orleans?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in New Orleans will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 26.5/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 26.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in New Orleans?
New Orleans sees air quality change through the year: once the long summer ozone season ends, winter offers the year's cleanest air, but extended summer heat and humidity, along with local industry, keep ozone elevated for months. Industrial corridors nearby tend to see more persistent background pollution than surrounding suburban areas.
Are air quality levels in New Orleans based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app