An air quality alert is in effect until midnight Thursday for the Chicago area as Canadian wildfires continue, officials said.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency declared an Air Pollution Action Day because widespread ozone and or particulate levels are expected to be at or above the unhealthy for sensitive groups category.
Officials said wildfire smoke is expected to continue to affect those levels Thursday and Friday, officials said. The same air alerts were also issued on Wednesday.
Current morning conditions at O’Hare International Airport are mostly cloudy with haze at 60 degrees. At Midway Airport, conditions are foggy and misty at 61 degrees.
On Thursday, highs in the upper 50s are expected.
How to protect yourself from the bad air caused by Canada’s wildfires
Plumes of smoke are blanketing large swaths of the U.S. and parts of Europe, which presents risks for those breathing it.
The Midwest, Northeast and Great Lakes regions of the U.S. have “very unhealthy” air quality, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and experts say people should take precautions. Read more here.
