Is the air quality in Baton Rouge bad today?

The latest hourly PM2.5 reading near Baton Rouge is 10 µg/m³, measured at Oct 14, 7:00PM. This page updates twice an hour. The NowCast smoke average is currently Moderate on the US EPA scale.

Will there be wildfire smoke in Baton Rouge over the next 48 hours?

Forecasts show smoke increasing, peaking near 41 µg/m³ within the next 48 hours.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana — Wildfire Smoke Forecast

Live PM_2.5 and 48-hour smoke-model outlook — updated Oct 14, 7:38PM CDT

Current air quality and forecast

Now · observedModerate 11 µg/m³ NowCast · latest 10 µg/m³ at Capitol

Next 48 hoursUnhealthy for Sensitive Groups 4–41 µg/m³ · 2 models

Forecast peak41 µg/m³Oct 15, 7:00AM · FireWork

Smoke is expected to arrive around Oct 15, 6:00AM and clear by about Oct 15, 12:00PM.

Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.

Last 24 hours observed & next 48 hours forecast

Background bands (US EPA AQI, 24-h basis): ■ Good · ■ Moderate · ■ Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Forecast

Next 6 hours

4–24 µg/m³

Peak around Oct 15, 2:00AM

Next 12 hours

4–41 µg/m³

Peak around Oct 15, 7:00AM

Next 24 hours

4–41 µg/m³

Peak around Oct 15, 7:00AM

Next 48 hours

4–41 µg/m³

Peak around Oct 15, 7:00AM

Next 24 hours — model comparison 2 models · 24-hour peak table

Model	Peak PM2.5	Peak around
HRRR-Smoke (NOAA, 3 km)	4 µg/m³	Oct 15, 5:00AM
FireWork (ECCC)	41 µg/m³	Oct 15, 7:00AM

Model values are for the nearest forecast grid cell to Baton Rouge; FireSmoke, FireWork and HRRR are independent and often disagree — treat the highest available value as the cautious planning number.

Observations and NowCast are total PM_2.5 — wildfire smoke plus every other source — as regulatory monitors measure it, and FireWork models that same total. FireSmoke and HRRR-Smoke estimate the wildfire contribution only, so they read lower than the monitors whenever other sources matter. The optional map plume surfaces are likewise fires-only.

Sky vs. ground

Little smoke at the surface or overhead.

Sky right now

Clear sky

● At the ground · ● Overhead (if mixed down)

Overhead smoke dims the sun but is not what you breathe. The dashed line shows the surface level if the whole column mixed through the boundary layer — a worst case, not a forecast · Data: NOAA HRRR-Smoke; cloud cover is from the model, not observed

Nearby fires

100 mi radius

Within 100 mi, agencies report 2 Mostly contained (70%+).

Not contained0 fires

No not contained fires are reported in this state.

Partially contained0 fires

No partially contained fires are reported in this state.

Mostly contained (70%+)2 fires

Amite - Ewell Rd. Centreville

45 mi away · 150 acres · 100% contained · reported 2026-10-01 · MS

distance measured to the incident point

Mostly contained (70%+)

Amite Kahnville Rd

51 mi away · 190 acres · 100% contained · reported 2026-10-09 · MS

distance measured to the incident point

Mostly contained (70%+)

Proximity and wind direction do not prove that a fire caused smoke at this location. Source: National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC); incident points and containment as reported by the responsible agencies.

Forecast track record here

29-day record · 2 nearby monitors

Model	Typical error	Tendency
FireWork	6.8 µg/m³	reads high 4.7
HRRR-Smoke	7.3 µg/m³	reads low 7.2

Mean absolute error and average tendency in µg/m³, from forecasts verified 0–6 hours ahead at monitors within 50 km. A short-range record, not a measure of how far ahead a model stays reliable. FireSmoke and HRRR model wildfire smoke only, so they read below the monitors whenever other sources of PM2.5 matter.

Nearest monitoring stations

Capitol11 µg/m³ NowCast1.0 mi · Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Port Allen– NowCast3.8 mi · Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality French Settlement14 µg/m³ NowCast24 mi · Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

See the Louisiana-wide forecast — every monitor, ranked →

More in Louisiana: New Orleans · Shreveport