CHICAGO (WLS) — The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert across the Chicago area, citing an unhealthy mix of ozone and wildfire smoke. This alert highlights rising environmental concerns impacting the region’s air quality.
Residents should prepare for the alert to persist until Thursday night, as adverse conditions are expected to remain.
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By 9 a.m., air quality on Chicago’s North Side as well as its northern suburbs had deteriorated to very unhealthy levels, reported the Environmental Protection Agency. Communities along the Wisconsin border, extending into southern Wisconsin, also reported severely poor air quality.
SEE ALSO: Tracking air quality across the Chicago area
These conditions have been exacerbated by smoke migrating south from Canadian wildfires, bringing a thick haze into the city and beyond.
According to the NWS, the compromised air quality can lead to a slew of health issues, including headaches, eye and sinus irritation, fatigue, chest discomfort, breathing challenges, asthma flare-ups, throat irritation, and increased coughing.
SEE ALSO: How to stay cool in Chicago area amid rising temperatures this summer: LIST
The Chicago Park District said it may move activities indoors on Thursday due to the air quality.
“Chicago Park District programs may be moved indoors, have limited time outdoors, or be canceled,” an update read in part. “The Chicago Park District reminds visitors to take precautions while enjoying our parks, beaches, pools, and facilities during these conditions.”
Experts say the combination of the heat, humidity, and pollution loaded with particulates could put those with respiratory problems at risk.
To stay safe people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens are being advised to:
-Avoid strenuous outdoor activities
-Keep outdoor activities short
-Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.
For everyone else:
-Choose less strenuous activities like walking instead of running so you don’t breathe so hard (and)
-Be active outdoors when the air quality is better.
Health experts say under the current conditions, anyone suffering from a respiratory ailment or condition – would be advised to stay indoors.
“This smoke that is in the air, it’s very irritating,” Chicagoan Michelle Turner said. You can’t hardly breathe.”
Turner isn’t taking any chances.
“Burning in the eyes burning in the throat,” she said. “This is why I have my mask my glasses on to protect myself.”
She’s wearing a face mask just to stay safe.
Dave Rockovich is visiting from Colorado.
“Living in Colorado the whole states on fire right now, so,” he said.
Most of the city’s skyline is blanketed in a haze as toxic smoke from Canadian wildfires settles over the area.
Dave Rockovich and Irgrid Rockovich said not only can you see it, you can smell it too.
“We were curious about what was going on because we woke up,” Dave said Rockovich said.
“We thought it was just fog and he looked it up and saw his wildfires and I was like, ‘Oh geez, OK,'” Irgrid Rockovich said.
Plenty of people went to North Avenue Beach early to try and beat the heat.
Despite suffering from allergies, Daniel Ortiz still went for a run along the lakefront.
“It’s the wind and the Hayes because when I got out of the house this morning, I saw it.,” Ortiz said. “I thought it was gonna be a little tough one today, but either way we got a good sweat in.”
ABC7 Accuweather Meteorologist Tracy Butler said there is a small chance for a few isolated storms Thursday afternoon. Butler said rain chances increase Friday afternoon and evening as well as Saturday evening.
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