Chicago and Indiana counties under air quality alert due to Canadian wildfire smoke until Thursday, National Weather Service says
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago area is under an air quality alert until Thursday due to the Canadian wildfire smoke until Thursday.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency declared an “Air Pollution Action Day” for the greater Chicago area until midnight on Thursday.

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

The alert was in effect for northern and northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

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

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

Conditions at ground level are unhealthy in Midwest

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow map indicated a vast area of “unhealthy” air quality stretching across eastern Minnesota into western Wisconsin and northern Iowa, marked in red. The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro region particularly experienced “very unhealthy” conditions displayed in purple, where Air Quality Index (AQI) values reached around 250, although there was a slight improvement by late morning.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) evaluates the cleanliness or pollution levels of the air, emphasizing the potential health effects one might experience a few hours or days after exposure. The AQI considers pollutants like ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The primary concern in this situation stems from particulate matter due to fires.

The AQI scale ranges from green, indicating satisfactory air quality with minimal health risk, to maroon, which signals hazardous conditions. At this level, there are health warnings of emergency situations where the likelihood of health effects is heightened for everyone, according to AirNow.

The Canadian fire situation

Canada is having another bad wildfire season, and more than 27,000 people in three provinces have been forced to evacuate. Most of the smoke reaching the American Midwest has been coming from fires northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg in Manitoba.

Winnipeg hotels opened Monday to evacuees. More than 17,000 Manitoba residents have been displaced since last week, including 5,000 residents of the community of Flin Flon, nearly 400 miles (645 kilometers) northwest of Winnipeg. In neighboring Saskatchewan, 2,500 residents of the town of La Ronge were ordered to flee Monday, on top of more than 8,000 in the province who had been evacuated earlier.

In Saskatoon, where the premiers of Canada’s provinces and the country’s prime minister met Monday, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said all of Canada has come together to help the Prairie provinces.

Two people were killed by a wildfire in mid-May in Lac du Bonnet, northeast of Winnipeg.

Canada’s worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months.

AP News contributed to this report, including: Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan, and Scott McFetridge in Des Moines, Iowa.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Senate Republicans passes Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' after a turbulent all-night session

Senate Republicans Approve Trump’s Signature Bill Following Intense Overnight Session

Senate Republicans successfully pushed President Donald Trump’s significant tax breaks and spending…
Portrait of a man and woman.

Army Veteran Dies in Unfortunate Accident Shortly After Transitioning to Off-Grid Lifestyle, Heartbroken Daughter Shares Moving Tribute

AN Army veteran has been killed in a freak accident – just…
No verdict reached during first day of jury deliberations in Diddy sex crimes trial

Diddy Sex Crimes Trial: Jury Deliberations Day One Ends With No Verdict

A jury consisting of 12 members commenced their deliberations on Monday for…
California police nab 7 foreign nationals in jewelry store heist, 1 suspect still loose

California Police Arrest 7 Foreign Nationals in Jewelry Store Robbery; 1 Suspect Remains at Large

Seven men, suspected of jewelry thefts in their home countries, have reportedly…
Jessica Alba and daughter Honor, 17, match in floral outfits at Wimbledon 2025

Jessica Alba and Her 17-Year-Old Daughter, Honor, Sport Matching Floral Outfits at Wimbledon 2025

Page Six may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you…
FBI released photo of Amy Lynn Bradley.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Amy Bradley: Missing Passenger from Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas

AMY Lynn Bradley was on a cruise with her parents and brother…
ICE agents in Midwest jurisdiction recently arresting more who have no prior criminal convictions, charges

ICE Agents in the Midwest Increasingly Detain Individuals Without Prior Criminal Records

CHICAGO (WLS) — President Donald Trump campaigned with a promise to deport…
World leader suspended from office over leaked phone call after deadly border dispute

Global Leader Temporarily Removed Following Leaked Call After Fatal Border Clash

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was temporarily removed from her role on…
Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 1 of El Chapo's sons, intends to plead guilty in New York fed criminal case: I-Team documents

Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of El Chapo, plans to admit guilt in New York federal criminal case, according to I-Team reports.

CHICAGO (WLS) — New information acquired by the ABC 7 I-Team reveals…
Man arrested for deadly immigrant smuggling operation that killed Romanian family of four and his own brother

Man Apprehended for Fatal Human Smuggling Incident Resulting in Deaths of Romanian Family and His Brother

A dual U.S.-Canadian citizen was taken into custody last month for his…
Florida cooperation with immigration enforcement sparks fears people will disappear into jails

Concerns Arise as Florida’s Collaboration with Immigration Enforcement Raises Jail Disappearance Fears

(MIAMI (AP) — As Florida law enforcement agencies cooperate with federal immigration…
Damian Lillard 'elated' Bucks made him a free agent

Damian Lillard Thrilled to Become a Free Agent Thanks to the Bucks

Damian Lillard isn’t too bothered by his Bucks release.  The Athletic disclosed…