ILLINOIS (WCIA) — An “Air Pollution Action Day” alert has been issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency due to the movement of wildfire smoke across the state.
The alert is set for Sunday, July 19, as weather conditions are expected to reach or exceed the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (USG) category in almost all regions forecasting Illinois Air Quality Index sectors. Notably, the entire state is encompassed by this alert, with the exception of the Metro-East St. Louis area.
Starting Saturday afternoon, smoke and fine particulate matter anticipated at levels harmful to air quality will likely resurface in Illinois. The northern regions are expected to feel the effects by the afternoon and evening, with smoke slowly drifting to southern areas overnight.
According to the IEPA, varying levels of smoke could affect locations both within and outside the alert zones over Saturday and Sunday, potentially even extending into Monday.
People with respiratory and pulmonary disorders, children, older adults, and anyone who is active outdoors are more at risk to elevated air pollution. Sensitive individuals should follow their doctor’s advice, Illinois officials added. Symptoms that are important to pay attention to include wheezing, coughing, elevated heart rate, tiredness, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Officials also encouraged people to take the following actions to protect themselves when air quality is poor:
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed
Anyone with air quality concerns, or those with outdoor plans, should check current NowCast readings on AirNow.gov. To learn more about how to interpret the air quality numbers near you, click here.
You can learn more information on the IEPA’s website and on the IDPH’s website.