Air quality alert extended for the entire Chicago area
Friday, June 6, 2025 — CHICAGO, Illinois – A thick blanket of smoke from Canadian wildfires is once again deteriorating the air quality across northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has declared an Air Pollution Action Day through midnight, with the possibility of extension into Saturday.
According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, levels of particulate pollution (PM2.5) surged overnight into the “unhealthy” category for many locations, especially Chicago and northwest Indiana. Several monitoring stations registered AQI readings above 150, surpassing thresholds where health impacts are possible for the general population.
Unhealthy levels reached as haze mixes with fog
Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes warned that “some sensors are reading ‘unhealthy’ for everyone,” not just those sensitive to air pollution. Early this morning, Chicago’s AQI reached 160, placing it solidly in the red zone. This level corresponds to “unhealthy” air under the EPA’s six-tiered color-coded Air Quality Index.
The combination of smoke and fog has also led to reduced visibility, particularly along the Lake Michigan shoreline and across suburbs to the north and west.
What residents may experience today
Many Chicagoans may smell smoke outdoors throughout the day and evening. Skies will appear hazy, although how close the smoke is to the ground can vary across neighborhoods. PM2.5 levels—fine inhalable particles that are 30 times smaller than a human hair—can penetrate deep into the lungs, posing risks for children, the elderly, and people with asthma or lung conditions.
The National Weather Service urges those in sensitive groups to limit prolonged outdoor activities until conditions improve.
Precautions advised during high pollution episodes
To mitigate pollution, the Illinois EPA recommends waiting until after sunset to refuel vehicles, combining errands into fewer trips, and using public transportation or carpooling whenever possible.
Temperatures remain mild as smoke lingers
Despite the poor air quality, temperatures will remain in the mid 70s°F (about 24°C) inland, with cooler readings near the lakefront due to lake breezes. According to Jeanes, this pattern will hold through the weekend and into early next week, with warmer highs near 80°F (27°C) expected by Wednesday.
How to monitor the air quality in your area
Residents can check the real-time Air Quality Index via AirNow.gov, where a ZIP code search shows detailed readings and AQI forecasts by individual monitoring stations across the Chicago metropolitan area.
