Chicago, Illinois – Unhealthy air is blanketing the greater Chicago area Thursday, with state officials warning residents to limit time outdoors until midnight tonight as ozone and particulate levels reach unhealthy thresholds. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has declared an Air Pollution Action Day for all of metro Chicago, including McHenry, Lake, Kane, DuPage, Cook, Kendall, Grundy, and Will counties, warning that pollution will remain high through Thursday evening.
According to the Illinois EPA, the Air Quality Index is expected to stay in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category for much of the day. Children, seniors, and anyone with asthma or other lung conditions should avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially this afternoon and early evening when ozone levels typically peak. The alert covers major cities and suburbs, including Aurora, Elgin, Naperville, Joliet, Evanston, and Waukegan, as well as all Chicago neighborhoods.
Residents are urged to help lower emissions by limiting car trips, postponing yard work with gas-powered equipment, and refraining from burning materials outdoors. Officials advise running air conditioning with clean filters and keeping windows closed. With stagnant, hot summer air persisting, pollution could spike again if conditions don’t improve.
The current Air Pollution Action Day will remain in effect through midnight tonight. Residents can check the latest conditions and safety tips at airnow.gov. Another alert may be issued if weather patterns fail to clear the region.
