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When will the smoke clear? Hour-by-hour look as ‘hazardous' air quality continues for Chicago area
Дата публикации: 17-07-2026 06:01:28
A thick wall of smoke from wildfires burning in Canada was still hovering over northeastern Illinois, northwest Indiana and all of Wisconsin early Friday morning, with air quality readings still in the “hazardous” category .
According to air quality tracking website AirNow.gov, the entire Chicago area had AQI numbers above 300 on a scale up to 500. In Wheaton, the air quality was off the charts, at 584.
“Even if you do not suffer from upper respiratory issues, if the number is over 150, you’re going to affected,” NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said.
Six Flags Great America closed amid thick wildfire smoke, ‘hazardous’ air quality
Thursday, some suburbs saw numbers even higher, with beaches and pools closed and outdoor events canceled. Photos and videos showed the Chicago skyline completely disappear into haze, with low visibility and reddish-brown skies.
But improving conditions were on the way, Roman said.
“We should start to see that smoke backing off a bit, especially after lunchtime today,” Roman said, with the smoke gradually decreasing over the next 12-24 hours.
Still, an air quality alert remained in effect until midnight, with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issuing a “purple forecast air pollution action day.”
What is a purple air quality alert?
The alert was declared “due to a forecast of very unhealthy purple category particulates,” the National Weather Service said Friday. Thursday, the alert was red.
Purple falls into the “very unhealthy” category, with air quality readings of between 201-300. Some parts of the Chicago area were even worse, at “hazardous.”
“Everyone should reduce prolonged activities or heavy exertion outdoors,” the agency said, especially active children, those with asthma, older adults and people with respiratory or pulmonary conditions.
When will the smoke clear?
Winds shifting out of the southwest could allow the smoke to lift starting at about 12 p.m. Roman said, with the heaviest, thickest smoke pushed off into Michigan.
“By evening hours, it does look a lot better,” Roman said.
Friday afternoon, air quality was expected to move up into the “unhealthy” or red category, which ranks as level three of six. That’s compared to the “hazardous” category, which ranks as level six.
“Still pretty bad by the afternoon,” Roman said. “But a lot better.”
Scattered showers and storms with heavy downpours at times were also possible Friday afternoon and evening Roman said.
Rain could “temporarily” relieve wildfire smoke, Roman said. But once it ends, smoky skies would return, leaving behind what many refer to as “dirty rain” on cars and homes.
“A heavy, prolonged rain, and a shift in winds — especially a wind shift, change in wind direction — will be the best best to remove smoke from the air,” Roman said.
By Saturday morning, the air quality was expected to improve even more, Roman said, into the “moderate” category, which ranks as level two.
Smoke could however move back in Saturday afternoon and evening, Roman said, as winds shift out of the north.
“We do have the potential by Saturday to see light to moderate smoke moving in,” Roman said, starting about 8 or 9 p.m.
“Definitely not as thick as what we have out there right now or yesterday,” Roman said.
NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Iisha Scott added that more smoke could move back in Sunday, “possibly becoming thicker” as the day goes on.
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A thick wall of smoke from wildfires burning in Canada was still hovering over northeastern Illinois, northwest Indiana and all of Wisconsin early Friday morning, with air quality readings still in the "hazardous" category .
According to air quality tracking website AirNow.gov, the entire Chicago area had AQI numbers above 300 on a scale up to 500. In Wheaton, the air quality was off the charts, at 584.
"Even if you do not suffer from upper respiratory issues, if the number is over 150, you're going to affected," NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said.
Six Flags Great America closed amid thick wildfire smoke, ‘hazardous' air quality
Thursday, some suburbs saw numbers even higher, with beaches and pools closed and outdoor events canceled. Photos and videos showed the Chicago skyline completely disappear into haze, with low visibility and reddish-brown skies.
But improving conditions were on the way, Roman said.
An hour-by-hour look at when the smoke will clear -- and potentially come back -- to the Chicago area.
Local
"We should start to see that smoke backing off a bit, especially after lunchtime today," Roman said, with the smoke gradually decreasing over the next 12-24 hours.
Still, an air quality alert remained in effect until midnight, with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issuing a "purple forecast air pollution action day."
What is a purple air quality alert?The alert was declared "due to a forecast of very unhealthy purple category particulates," the National Weather Service said Friday. Thursday, the alert was red.
Purple falls into the "very unhealthy" category, with air quality readings of between 201-300. Some parts of the Chicago area were even worse, at "hazardous."
"Everyone should reduce prolonged activities or heavy exertion outdoors," the agency said, especially active children, those with asthma, older adults and people with respiratory or pulmonary conditions.
When will the smoke clear?Winds shifting out of the southwest could allow the smoke to lift starting at about 12 p.m. Roman said, with the heaviest, thickest smoke pushed off into Michigan.
"By evening hours, it does look a lot better," Roman said.
Friday afternoon, air quality was expected to move up into the "unhealthy" or red category, which ranks as level three of six. That's compared to the "hazardous" category, which ranks as level six.
"Still pretty bad by the afternoon," Roman said. "But a lot better."
Scattered showers and storms with heavy downpours at times were also possible Friday afternoon and evening Roman said.
Rain could "temporarily" relieve wildfire smoke, Roman said. But once it ends, smoky skies would return, leaving behind what many refer to as "dirty rain" on cars and homes.
"A heavy, prolonged rain, and a shift in winds -- especially a wind shift, change in wind direction -- will be the best best to remove smoke from the air," Roman said.
By Saturday morning, the air quality was expected to improve even more, Roman said, into the "moderate" category, which ranks as level two.
Smoke could however move back in Saturday afternoon and evening, Roman said, as winds shift out of the north.
"We do have the potential by Saturday to see light to moderate smoke moving in," Roman said, starting about 8 or 9 p.m.
"Definitely not as thick as what we have out there right now or yesterday," Roman said.
NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Iisha Scott added that more smoke could move back in Sunday, "possibly becoming thicker" as the day goes on.
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