CHICAGO (WLS) — Residents of the Chicago area are currently facing an Air Quality Alert, triggered by smoke drifting from Canadian wildfires.
This alert will remain active until midnight on Friday.
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On Friday morning, the air quality in the region was categorized as hazardous.
According to Tracy Butler, an ABC7 Accuweather Meteorologist, the air quality is expected to be at its worst during the morning, but there may be some improvement by the afternoon.
SEE ALSO: Tracking air quality across the Chicago area
Butler also indicated that the afternoon and evening could bring rain and storms, potentially mixing with the smoke and resulting in a sludge-like residue.
Butler said the air quality should be better on Saturday, but smoky skies could return on Sunday.
The air is unhealthy for anyone to breathe.
The pollution forced several major events in the city to be rescheduled, including a Millennium Park summer music series performance and the Chicago Fire match at Soldier Field.
The Chicago Park District officially closed all beaches and outdoor pools Friday, designating only indoor ones stay open. They also moved all-day camps inside.
The smoke and haze blanketing the Chicago area is causing low visibility and could create some delays here at O’Hare Airport.
“I feel like I want to go get me a mask for this,” traveler Gary Coleman of Racine Wisconsin said. “I’m glad I’m leaving Chicago today so I don’t have to deal with this. I’m going down south for a little bit.”
Coleman said he loves visiting Chicago, but he said he doesn’t mind getting out of town and away from the smog.
Martic Davis shared the same sentiment as she and her granddaughter head out of town.
“Difficult, very difficult,” Davis said. “Thank God I don’t have any asthma or anything like that but even she is saying, ‘Grandma it is so foggy and smoky.'”
The haze also threatened to cause low visibility at O’Hare Airport, possibly delaying Megan Maresco and her softball trip.
“Some of my teammates are having some flight delays right now, so I hope we don’t have a flight. I don’t love the airport, but I don’t love sitting and waiting here forever, but it is what it is. As long as we get there safe,” Maresco said.
While health experts say the air is unhealthy for anyone to breathe and encourage people to avoid or limit time outdoors until the air quality gets better, the doctors at eye physicians and surgeons of Chicago say if you have to go outside, ditch the contact lenses.
“So the biggest thing that you can do is stay inside,” Dr. Fred Crawford said. “Outside of the that, you know, not be exposed to the elements, other things that you can do if you do have to go outside, if you wear a contact lens, I would try and use your glasses so that the irritants don’t get caught in between your contact lens and your tear film using artificial teardrops that are over the counter at many pharmacies.”
Health experts said the air is unhealthy for everyone to breathe and are encouraging people to avoid or limit time outdoors until the air quality gets better.
“If you can see it, and you can smell it, you’re breathing it in…so recommendations right now: if you don’t have to go out, then stay home,” Dr. Juanita Mora of the American Lung Association, said.
Doctors also recommend that people stay hydrated, which can help the respiratory system in these smoky conditions.
Due to the conditions, the Morton Arboretum’s outdoor areas are closed Friday. Programs scheduled for indoors will continue.
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