Air Quality Alert extended for Chicago area with return of smoke from Canadian wildfires
Smoke from the Canadian wildfires was back to choking Chicago air on Sunday after a break for the first part of the weekend.
Early Sunday morning, IQAir rated the air quality in Chicago second worst in the world, behind only Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, conditions were not nearly as severe as on Thursday, with the air quality index at 153 during 6 a.m. hour.
Later in the morning, that figure fell to 143. By the 11 a.m. hour, Chicago had fallen to ninth worst air quality in the world, with an index of 122.
Nevertheless, the air quality ranking has been vacillating between the unhealthy for sensitive groups range and the unhealthy-for-all range, and an Air Quality Alert is in effect.
The Air Quality Alert has now been extended through midnight Monday for the entire Chicago area.
While the skies may not always look smoky throughout the day, the air quality can change as wildfire smoke moves across the region.
"It's hard to breathe sometimes walking around, especially with everything going on the past couple of days," said Juan Oropuz.
He took precautions at the Roscoe Village Burger Fest, and says he and his mother have respiratory issues.
"From working outside and everything like that, sometimes it's harder for me to breathe outside. I do have a mask for that reason alone, for the smoke and everything," he said.
The skyline looked hazy at times from North Avenue Beach.
Jesse Rabner says that's why he wore his mask while running on the lakefront trail.
"I feel like better safe than sorry. I feel kind of weird, like I'm one of the only people today with a mask on. Like, especially when you're doing vigorous exercise, I feel like it's important. I don't want to be inhaling a bunch of particles," he said.
EPA warns that smoke could return to "unhealthy" conditions
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is warning smoke could push air quality back into the unhealthy for sensitive groups category for much of the state.
Anyone with asthma or heart disease, and anyone at all who is planning to spend a lot of time outdoors, is advised to take it easy, limit strenuous activity, and check air quality conditions before going out.
"As someone with Asthma, I'm from northern California, so I'm used to wildfires and wildfire smoke, but I've got this kinda ready. Right now it feels a lot better than even yesterday," said Ricky Luoto.
Plenty of people were seen enjoying the nicer weather on Saturday before the smoke returned. Saturday started with sunshine, sending families to Chicago's beaches after a week of extreme heat and smoky skies.
But in the afternoon, rain came, along with another round of Canadian wildfire smoke. Changing weather eventually sent beachgoers scrambling for cover.
The EPA emphasized that smoke levels can change throughout the day, so even if conditions look clear, air quality may not be. Smoke is expected to linger into Monday.
They say if your air conditioner has a fresh air intake, set your system to recirculate or close the intake. You can also use high-efficiency filters in air conditioning systems and portable air cleaners.
