CHICAGO — Smoke from Canadian wildfires pushed the city’s air quality to some of the worst levels in the world Thursday, prompting health warnings and an air quality alert across the region.
The National Weather Service on Thursday issued an air quality alert for northeast Illinois, warning that conditions are now reaching the “red” air quality designation — unhealthy not just for sensitive groups, but for the general public, according to AirNow, which monitors air quality nationally.
Health officials recommend choosing less strenuous activities, shortening time spent outside and being active during times when air quality improves.
Smoke from wildfires still burning in central Canadian provinces has drifted toward Chicago over the past few days, causing air quality to sharply decline.
Chicago’s air quality is expected to gradually improve over the next few days, returning to moderate levels by Saturday, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
CHICAGO — On Thursday, smoke from Canadian wildfires caused the city’s air quality to reach some of the lowest levels in the world, leading to regional air quality alerts and health warnings.
According to AirNow, a national air quality monitoring organization, the National Weather Service issued an air quality alert for northeast Illinois on Thursday, warning that the current conditions are approaching the “red” air quality designation, which is harmful not only for sensitive groups but also for the general public. By the afternoon, that alert had been extended through Friday.
AirNow recommends that older adults, children, teenagers, and those with heart or lung conditions take preventative measures to limit their exposure to poor air quality. Avoiding physically demanding outdoor activities, limiting outdoor time, and rescheduling or moving physical activity indoors when feasible are all part of this.
Others are urged to restrict their exposure as well. Health officials advise avoiding physically demanding activities, limiting outdoor time, and staying active when the air quality improves.
Thursday was also designated as Air Quality Action Day, the first of 2025, by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which urged citizens to reduce energy and pollution use and raise awareness of the possible health hazards associated with exposure to poor air quality. Later on, that was also extended through Friday.
Chicago’s air quality has drastically declined in recent days due to smoke from wildfires that are still burning in the provinces of central Canada.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency says that over the next few days, Chicago’s air quality will gradually improve and return to moderate levels by Saturday.
