CHICAGO () — A Chicago Air Quality Alert remained in place Friday as smoke from Canadian wildfires continued to blanket the region.
Officials extended the alert, keeping it in effect through Saturday night.
Air quality in the Chicago area was listed in the “hazardous” range Friday morning before later improving to “unhealthy” levels.
ABC7 AccuWeather meteorologists said the poorest air quality was expected during the morning, with some improvement possible by the afternoon.
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Rain and thunderstorms were also forecast for the afternoon and evening, raising the possibility that precipitation could mix with wildfire smoke and leave behind a sludgy residue.
Conditions were expected to improve on Saturday, though smoky skies could move back into the Chicago area on Sunday.
Health officials warned that the air is unhealthy for everyone to breathe.
The poor air quality also disrupted several major Chicago events, forcing the rescheduling of a Millennium Park summer music series performance and the Chicago Fire match at Soldier Field.
The Chicago Park District had officially closed all beaches and outdoor pools Friday, designating only indoor ones stay open. They also moved all-day camps inside.
After the air quality improved to “unhealthy,” the park district announced Friday afternoon that all beaches had reopened. However, day camps were still being held indoors.
“The Osaka Garden, and both the Garfield Park Conservatory and Lincoln Park Conservatory will remain closed for the day, and re-open tomorrow, July 18 at their regular time,” the park district said in the update. “All Night Out in the Parks and Movies in the Parks events have been cancelled for today.”
Tacos y Tamales festival is once again returning to Pilsen this weekend. The three-day festival filled with yummy food and vendors comes as the Canadian wildfire smoke lingers in the Chicago area.
The event brings out anywhere between 50,000 to 70,000 people through the weekend. Organizers say they have been watching the hazy conditions and are taking precautions.
“We totally understand if people want to postpone or wait and check the weekend before they come. We have given vendors the option to also forgo today and try again for tomorrow if they prefer, says Nick Povutsky, a partner at Green Curtain Events.
Friday afternoon, the blue skies did make an appearance amid the hazy skyline as many people still reached for masks.
Doctor Soledad Cortina ,a cornea specialist, says the tiny particles in the smoke could have lasting health effects.
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“Some of the components of wildfire are similar to those of like smoke and tobacco, and we know how damaging that is to the eyes and certain chronic conditions, says Dr. Cortina with the Illinois Society for Eye Physicians and Surgeons and University of Illinois Chicago Department of Ophthalmology.
Patricia Ward,the Head Scientist at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, said there could be some relief on the way.
“We’re really in this area of stagnation with the air and winds and the heat trapping everything and until that changes say with the rain for example or we get winds coming from another direction that’s when we’re going to see this clear up,” Ward said.
Ward added that weather patterns like these could continue to happen in the future.
“I think we are seeing that more and more across the U.S., North America, in general and around the world in other places too. The expectation is this climate change is going to continue to contribute more extreme weather,” Ward said.
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The smoke and haze blanketing the Chicago area caused low visibility and was expected to create some delays at O’Hare airport.
“I feel like I want to go get me a mask for this,” traveler Gary Coleman of Racine Wisconsin said. “I’m glad I’m leaving Chicago today so I don’t have to deal with this. I’m going down south for a little bit.”
Coleman said he loves visiting Chicago, but he said he doesn’t mind getting out of town and away from the smog.
Martic Davis shared the same sentiment as she and her granddaughter head out of town.
“Difficult, very difficult,” Davis said. “Thank God I don’t have any asthma or anything like that but even she is saying, ‘Grandma it is so foggy and smoky.'”
The haze also threatened to cause low visibility at O’Hare airport, possibly delaying Megan Maresco and her softball trip.
“Some of my teammates are having some flight delays right now, so I hope we don’t have a flight. I don’t love the airport, but I don’t love sitting and waiting here forever, but it is what it is. As long as we get there safe,” Maresco said.
While health experts say the air is unhealthy for anyone to breathe and encourage people to avoid or limit time outdoors until the air quality gets better, the doctors at eye physicians and surgeons of Chicago say if you have to go outside, ditch the contact lenses.
“So the biggest thing that you can do is stay inside,” Dr. Fred Crawford said. “Outside of the that, you know, not be exposed to the elements, other things that you can do if you do have to go outside, if you wear a contact lens, I would try and use your glasses so that the irritants don’t get caught in between your contact lens and your tear film using artificial teardrops that are over the counter at many pharmacies.”
Health experts said the air is unhealthy for everyone to breathe and are encouraging people to avoid or limit time outdoors until the air quality gets better.
“If you can see it, and you can smell it, you’re breathing it in…so recommendations right now: if you don’t have to go out, then stay home,” Dr. Juanita Mora of the American Lung Association, said.
Doctors also recommend that people stay hydrated, which can help the respiratory system in these smoky conditions.
Due to the conditions, the Morton Arboretum’s outdoor areas are closed Friday. Programs scheduled for indoors will continue.
On Saturday, severe weather with storms will be possible midday in the southern parts of the Chicago area.
More wildfire smoke is expected to return to the Chicago area on Sunday.
