Forecast: Possible stray showers; Air Pollution alert issued for Thursday
Weather Maps
Interactive Radar
Climate & Environment
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: A few isolated sprinkles during the evening, otherwise becoming partly cloudy late. Light northerly winds. Low: 55.
THURSDAY: Following a damp, dreary, and cool Wednesday, partly to mostly sunny skies return thanks to Canadian High Pressure just to the north of Chicago.
This will bring more seasonable 70s back to much of the area, with the lone exception being locations in close proximity to Lake Michigan where a northeasterly lake breeze will result in temperatures about 10-degrees cooler, in the lower to middle 60s.
While the partial sunshine will be a welcomed return, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has issued a Air Quality Alert in effect until midnight Thursday night due to an increase in particulates from Wildfire smoke.
The Air Pollution Action Day designation was issued for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. Active children and adults, especially people with pulmonary or respiratory disease such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor activity.
Air Quality: What's the AQI and how do you check it?
Regional air quality is expected to reach the 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.' It's the first Air Pollution Action Day issued by the Illinois EPA so far this year. The EPA's AirNow.gov site provides updated air quality information.
Weather Maps
Climate & Environment
Interactive Radar
Weather Bug Cameras
7-Day Outlook
Weather Center Newsletter
Climate and Environment news:
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Metro Detroit skies hazy from Canada wildfire smoke; air quality advisory until noon
Air quality in metro Detroit was unhealthy for sensitive groups on the morning of Friday, June 6, as Michigan continued to see the effects of Canadian wildfire smoke. An air quality advisory was expected to remain in effect until noon, and as of 8 a.m., much of metro Detroit fell under the sensitive group listing, according to Elsewhere in the area, air quality was deemed moderate rather than good. The air quality advisory was issued Thursday, June 5, for counties including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Washtenaw, Livingston, Monroe, Lenawee and others in mid-Michigan, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's alert through the National Weather Service. More: Canadian wildfire smoke engulfs Michigan's Mackinac Bridge, causing it to disappear More: 'We were not prepared': Canada fought nightmarish wildfires as smoke became US problem The environmental agency reported that particle pollution could occasionally reach levels that are unhealthy for everyone, not just sensitive groups, according to a June 5 release from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. Those levels weren't expected to persist, but Saturday could see moderate air quality levels, according to the June 5 release. When possible, residents should avoid strenuous activities, especially if they have heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma, according to the weather service alert. They should also monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness or burning in the nose, throat and eyes. Residents are also asked to avoid contributing to air pollution during the advisory by avoiding outdoor burning and the use of residential wood-burning devices. The map below displays the current air quality at monitoring sites in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Air monitoring sites are color-coded based on the pollutant (ozone or particulate matter) with the highest value. Particles that are less than 10 micrometers and 2.5 micrometers in diameter are called PM10 and PM2.5, respectively. An AQI of 50 or below means the current air quality is good. The shaded areas of the map show the approximate boundaries where air quality is available and listed as anything other than good. The information is updated hourly. Good Moderate Unhealthy for sensitive groups Unhealthy Very unhealthy Hazardous Some people are more sensitive to air pollution because of their age or health. People who are active or work outdoors are also at higher risk when the air quality is poor. Health concerns related to poor air quality may include difficulty breathing, coughing or wheezing and more serious health effects such as lung damage, asthma attacks, heart attacks and stroke. Here's how to interpret the Air Quality Index values, according to the U.S. EPA: Good (0-50): The level of pollution in the air is of little to no risk. Moderate (51-100): For people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution, a moderate health concern may exist. Unhealthy for sensitive groups (101-150): People who are more sensitive to air pollution may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Unhealthy (151-200): Some people may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Very unhealthy (201-300): An alert is triggered; the general population is at risk for more serious health effects. Hazardous (301-500): Emergency conditions health alert: Everyone is likely to be affected. For more information about air quality, visit Free Press reporter Kristi Tanner contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Canada wildfire smoke affects metro Detroit, Michigan air quality
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Editorial: That hazy sky out there isn't harmless
This week as temperatures finally reached acceptable June levels, Chicagoans prepared to step outside — onto patios and rooftops, into a park or along our gorgeous lakefront. Everything looks relatively normal out there. But it's not. The Illinois EPA reported Thursday that the Chicago area's air quality is unhealthy, not just for sensitive groups but for everyone. Why? Canadian wildfires continue to rage up north and plumes of smoke still cloud the sky here in the Midwest. As of Thursday, Canada was battling 200 active wildfires, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. It's amazing how quickly we become used to something like this. Many people don't look up and wonder why we're encased in a capsule of gray smoke from the north, why the air feels still and stale, and we certainly don't wonder why Canada is burning more severely and more regularly. Yet, the smoke is a problem, reflected in unhealthy air quality that can be a problem for anyone with asthma, heart and lung issues or other chronic conditions. Doctors warn that inhaling wildfire smoke can increase your heart rate and your risk of cardiac events if you're already at risk. The bottom line: Breathing in wildfire smoke just isn't good for you. Thankfully the forecast predicts improvement over the next several days, though air quality is expected to worsen downstate. Chicago's air quality was the worst in the country Thursday, according to IQAir. This isn't just a local story. Wildfire smoke from Canada is affecting major U.S. cities from New York to Minneapolis. And those most affected, of course, are in Canada. More than 27,000 Canadians across three provinces have been forced to evacuate due to wildfires. This relatively new phenomenon was met with a different attitude when heavy wildfire smoke blanketed the Midwest and East Coast in 2023. Back then, the smoke came during the heart of summer, and the smoke on top of high temperatures made breathing conditions more noticeably difficult. What followed was canceled sporting events and many more people who opted to stay inside until the smoke disappeared. Today, it seems as though concerns have faded, though we know many folks who have complained of headaches, allergy flare-ups and fatigue this week. It's worth taking basic precautions, especially for those with preexisting health conditions. On smoky days, experts recommend limiting outdoor activity, using air purifiers if available and keeping windows closed. Checking the air quality index — available via most weather apps — is a good habit, just like checking the forecast. Staying aware can make a real difference, especially for children, older adults and anyone with asthma or allergies. The smoke is expected to clear soon. But as wildfires become more common, it's important to remember: Just because something starts to feel normal doesn't mean it's safe. We shouldn't ignore the health risks — or the warning signs in the sky. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: That hazy sky out there isn't harmless
This week as temperatures finally reached acceptable June levels, Chicagoans prepared to step outside — onto patios and rooftops, into a park or along our gorgeous lakefront. Everything looks relatively normal out there. But it's not. The Illinois EPA reported Thursday that the Chicago area's air quality is unhealthy, not just for sensitive groups but for everyone. Why? Canadian wildfires continue to rage up north and plumes of smoke still cloud the sky here in the Midwest. As of Thursday, Canada was battling 200 active wildfires, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. It's amazing how quickly we become used to something like this. Many people don't look up and wonder why we're encased in a capsule of gray smoke from the north, why the air feels still and stale, and we certainly don't wonder why Canada is burning more severely and more regularly. Yet, the smoke is a problem, reflected in unhealthy air quality that can be a problem for anyone with asthma, heart and lung issues or other chronic conditions. Doctors warn that inhaling wildfire smoke can increase your heart rate and your risk of cardiac events if you're already at risk. The bottom line: Breathing in wildfire smoke just isn't good for you. Thankfully the forecast predicts improvement over the next several days, though air quality is expected to worsen downstate. Chicago's air quality was the worst in the country Thursday, according to IQAir. This isn't just a local story. Wildfire smoke from Canada is affecting major U.S. cities from New York to Minneapolis. And those most affected, of course, are in Canada. More than 27,000 Canadians across three provinces have been forced to evacuate due to wildfires. This relatively new phenomenon was met with a different attitude when heavy wildfire smoke blanketed the Midwest and East Coast in 2023. Back then, the smoke came during the heart of summer, and the smoke on top of high temperatures made breathing conditions more noticeably difficult. What followed was canceled sporting events and many more people who opted to stay inside until the smoke disappeared. Today, it seems as though concerns have faded, though we know many folks who have complained of headaches, allergy flare-ups and fatigue this week. It's worth taking basic precautions, especially for those with preexisting health conditions. On smoky days, experts recommend limiting outdoor activity, using air purifiers if available and keeping windows closed. Checking the air quality index — available via most weather apps — is a good habit, just like checking the forecast. Staying aware can make a real difference, especially for children, older adults and anyone with asthma or allergies. The smoke is expected to clear soon. But as wildfires become more common, it's important to remember: Just because something starts to feel normal doesn't mean it's safe. We shouldn't ignore the health risks — or the warning signs in the sky.
