Chicago Air Quality Hits Hazardous as Canadian Wildfire Smoke Spreads July 16

Chicago woke Thursday to hazardous air quality as smoke from over 800 Canadian wildfires blanketed the city. The Air Quality Index reached 458, the worst reading in nearly 30 years of monitoring. City officials closed all 50 outdoor pools and beaches, canceled outdoor activities, and moved school programming indoors. At least 17 states faced air quality alerts affecting more than 125 million Americans.

Why Chicago’s air quality turned hazardous overnight

Smoke from more than 800 Canadian wildfires, many out of control, drifted south into the Chicago area Thursday. Wind patterns pushed the smoke across the Great Lakes and into Illinois. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency declared an Air Pollution Action Day for Chicago and northern Illinois, urging residents to limit prolonged outdoor activity. The air quality alert was extended through Friday.

How bad is the air right now in Chicago

Chicago’s Air Quality Index on Thursday afternoon stood at 458, placing the entire city in the hazardous category. A map of nearly 300 air monitors showed no neighborhood was safe from the bad air by Thursday night. The North Side and northern suburbs recorded extremely unhealthy levels. IQAir ranked Chicago with the second-worst air quality in the country, behind Minneapolis. Hazardous air means fine particles from wildfire smoke travel deep into lungs, causing headaches, irritated eyes, difficulty breathing, chest pains, and asthma attacks.

What Chicago is doing to protect residents

The Chicago Park District moved all day camps and outdoor activities indoors Thursday. All 50 outdoor swimming pools and city beaches closed for the day. Evanston and other suburban beaches also shut down. Chicago Public Schools moved all programming indoors as part of its extreme heat policy. The Chicago Fire soccer team postponed its Thursday evening match at Soldier Field against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, rescheduling it for Tuesday, October 6. Emergency rooms reported a bump in patients with asthma and COPD symptoms.

When will the smoke clear from Chicago

The National Weather Service forecast smoke to continue affecting the region through at least Friday. Wind patterns are expected to shift Thursday night into Friday morning, beginning to clear smoke from the area. Rain predicted for Saturday should help dissipate remaining smoke. The current air quality alert was expected to expire at 11 a.m. Friday for most of Illinois, though northeastern Minnesota and other areas near active fires face hazardous conditions through the weekend.

Final Thoughts

Chicago faced its worst air quality in 30 years on July 16 as Canadian wildfire smoke blanketed the city. With the alert extending through Friday and conditions expected to improve by Saturday, residents should limit outdoor exposure until the smoke clears.

FAQs

Why is Chicago’s air quality so bad right now?

Over 800 Canadian wildfires, many out of control, are sending smoke south into Chicago. Wind patterns pushed the smoke across the Great Lakes into Illinois on July 16.

What does an Air Quality Index of 458 mean?

An AQI of 458 is hazardous, the most severe level. Fine particles from wildfire smoke can cause breathing problems, chest pain, and asthma attacks in anyone exposed.

When will Chicago’s air quality improve?

Wind will shift Thursday night into Friday morning, starting to clear smoke. Rain on Saturday should help dissipate remaining smoke. The alert expires Friday at 11 a.m. for most areas.

What events were canceled in Chicago due to air quality?

The Chicago Fire soccer match Thursday was postponed. All beaches and 50 outdoor pools closed. Chicago Park District moved all outdoor camps and activities indoors.

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About Author

Danny Kontos

Co Founder

Danny Kontos has been a stock investor since 2007 and co-founded Meyka in 2023. He keeps a small, focused portfolio and only moves when the numbers are hard to argue with. He has waited years on a single position before. Before Meyka, he ran a web hosting company and a mortgage lending platform, so he knows what a well-run business actually looks like under the hood. This article did not come from a news cycle. It came from someone who has been watching this space for a long time.