Current air quality Chicago: Canadian wildfire smoke leading to high AQI in Illinois, Indiana counties with alert in effect
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — An Air Quality Alert remains in effect Friday due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.

The alert remains in effect for the area until midnight Friday.

ABC7 Accuweather Meteorologist Tracy Butler reported that the poorest air quality is expected during the morning hours, with conditions improving as particulate matter begins to lessen by the afternoon.

On Friday morning, air quality levels were deemed unhealthy for sensitive individuals, such as those with asthma. The previous day, much of the region experienced air quality that was considered unhealthy for the general population.

A tracker with the latest updates on air quality levels for areas across the state can be found on the AirNow government website.

Who is at risk?

Children, and those with pulmonary or respiratory diseases such as asthma, are recommended to limit their time outdoors.

“If it’s visible, then guess what? You’re inhaling it, so caution is necessary,” stated Dr. Juanita Mora, who is the National Medical Spokesperson for the American Lung Association.

The warning is a result of the smoke from Canadian wildfires, bringing potentially dangerous pollutants with it to the Midwest.

“For those group of patients or people, we recommend that they avoid being outdoors right now because that can create some potential breathing problems, particularly for people who have lung disease or heart disease,” said Dr. Momen Wahidi, a Northwestern Medicine Pulmonologist.

Doctors also recommended for people to wear a mask if they have to be outside as the haze lingers, and when they get home, make sure to change clothes, shower, and do whatever possible to get any pollutants off.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Sole survivor of an Air India plane crash with bandages on his face.

British Survivor of Air India Disaster Haunted by Nightmares and Remains Silent About Tragic Crash

AIR India’s sole crash survivor has nightmares where “everyone dies,” and won’t…
US retailers face holiday challenges amid tariff uncertainty

U.S. Retailers Confront Holiday Season Hurdles Due to Unclear Tariff Situation

Months of uncertainty regarding potential increases in the cost of importing goods…
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg paints as nonprofit hands out free needles to junkies in Washington Square Park

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg Criticized as Charity Distributes Free Needles to Drug Users in Washington Square Park

This week, Manhattan’s chief prosecutor demonstrated his painting abilities in Washington Square…

Colorado Employs Cattle Grazing to Reduce Wildfire Risk in Vulnerable Regions

BOULDER, Colo. – In a bid to minimize wildfire risks in Colorado,…
Putin is ready to discuss peace in Ukraine but wants to achieve goals, Kremlin says

Kremlin States Putin Open to Peace Talks in Ukraine, Aims to Fulfill Objectives

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned in a state television interview that President…
Top Hegseth aide Justin Fulcher resigns from Pentagon after 6 months of service: 'Incredibly inspiring'

Key Hegseth Advisor, Justin Fulcher, Steps Down from Pentagon After 6 Months: ‘Incredibly Inspiring’

A senior advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has departed from the…
DNI Gabbard Details More Jaw-Dopping Info on Obama's Effort to 'Subvert the American People's Will'

Gabbard Reveals Shocking Insights on Obama’s Alleged Effort to Undermine the Will of Americans

The focus here is on the extended effort by the so-called Deep…
Tucker Carlson and Darryl Cooper Expose Jeffrey Epstein's Dark Web of Power, Intelligence Ties, and Elite Protection

Tucker Carlson and Darryl Cooper Discuss Jeffrey Epstein

In a nearly three-hour deep dive, Tucker Carlson and historian Darryl Cooper…
Two bound men sitting under a tree.

Inside Putin’s ‘Unit 31831’: Harsh Penalties, Electrocution, and High-Risk Missions without Bribes

A BRUTAL Russian unit ties its soldiers up like dogs and sends…
ICE arrests illegal immigrant accused of decapitating Illinois woman after judge set him free

ICE Detains Undocumented Immigrant Charged with Decapitating Illinois Woman After Release by Judge

Immigration authorities in Chicago have apprehended a Mexican illegal immigrant who is…
Tsunami warning issued after two large quakes rock Russia’s Pacific coast

Tsunami Alert Announced Following Major Earthquakes off Russia’s Pacific Shore

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has alerted residents of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula…
3 people are still missing from deadly July 4 floods in Texas county, down from nearly 100

Three Individuals Remain Unaccounted for After July 4th Floods in Texas County, Down from Almost 100

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Authorities in a Texas hill country community that…