Chicago Air Quality Turns Hazardous Thursday; Worst in City History

For real-time local conditions, check AirNow.gov. Residents can sign up for emergency alerts through the OEMC app or at notifychicago.org, and anyone needing air-conditioned relief can call 311 to find a cooling center or request a well-being check for an at-risk neighbor.

Those most at risk—older adults, children, pregnant people, and anyone with heart or lung conditions—should avoid all unnecessary time outdoors. The Chicago Park District has closed beaches and moved or canceled outdoor programs.

Residents are advised to stay inside as much as possible, keep windows closed, run air conditioning on recirculate to keep smoky air out, and run an air purifier on its highest setting if available. Anyone who must go outside should wear a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask, though health officials stress that a mask is not a substitute for staying indoors. Watch for symptoms like coughing, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, and call 911 for severe symptoms.

The National Weather Service has extended its air quality alert through Friday night for parts of northern Illinois and all of northwest Indiana.

The air quality index climbed above 450 during the day Thursday, ranking Chicago among the worst major cities in the world. It then jumped to over 600 on Thursday evening.

Officials are urging residents to stay indoors and keep windows closed.

Chicago's air quality has reached hazardous levels as smoke from Canadian wildfires settles over the region—the worst air quality in the city's recorded history, according to Mayor Brandon Johnson. At hazardous levels, the smoke is dangerous for everyone, not just sensitive groups.

Incident reported at Chicago.

For real-time local conditions, check AirNow.gov. Residents can sign up for emergency alerts through the OEMC app or at notifychicago.org, and anyone needing air-conditioned relief can call 311 to find a cooling center or request a well-being check for an at-risk neighbor.

Those most at risk—older adults, children, pregnant people, and anyone with heart or lung conditions—should avoid all unnecessary time outdoors. The Chicago Park District has closed beaches and moved or canceled outdoor programs.

Residents are advised to stay inside as much as possible, keep windows closed, run air conditioning on recirculate to keep smoky air out, and run an air purifier on its highest setting if available. Anyone who must go outside should wear a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask, though health officials stress that a mask is not a substitute for staying indoors. Watch for symptoms like coughing, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, and call 911 for severe symptoms.

The National Weather Service has extended its air quality alert through Friday night for parts of northern Illinois and all of northwest Indiana.

The air quality index climbed above 450 during the day Thursday, ranking Chicago among the worst major cities in the world. It then jumped to over 600 on Thursday evening.

Officials are urging residents to stay indoors and keep windows closed.

Chicago's air quality has reached hazardous levels as smoke from Canadian wildfires settles over the region—the worst air quality in the city's recorded history, according to Mayor Brandon Johnson. At hazardous levels, the smoke is dangerous for everyone, not just sensitive groups.

Incident reported at Chicago.

For real-time local conditions, check AirNow.gov. Residents can sign up for emergency alerts through the OEMC app or at notifychicago.org, and anyone needing air-conditioned relief can call 311 to find a cooling center or request a well-being check for an at-risk neighbor.

Those most at risk—older adults, children, pregnant people, and anyone with heart or lung conditions—should avoid all unnecessary time outdoors. The Chicago Park District has closed beaches and moved or canceled outdoor programs.

Residents are advised to stay inside as much as possible, keep windows closed, run air conditioning on recirculate to keep smoky air out, and run an air purifier on its highest setting if available. Anyone who must go outside should wear a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask, though health officials stress that a mask is not a substitute for staying indoors. Watch for symptoms like coughing, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, and call 911 for severe symptoms.

The National Weather Service has extended its air quality alert through Friday night for parts of northern Illinois and all of northwest Indiana.

The air quality index climbed above 450 during the day Thursday, ranking Chicago among the worst major cities in the world. It then jumped to over 600 on Thursday evening.

Officials are urging residents to stay indoors and keep windows closed.

Chicago's air quality has reached hazardous levels as smoke from Canadian wildfires settles over the region—the worst air quality in the city's recorded history, according to Mayor Brandon Johnson. At hazardous levels, the smoke is dangerous for everyone, not just sensitive groups.

Incident reported at Chicago.

For real-time local conditions, check AirNow.gov. Residents can sign up for emergency alerts through the OEMC app or at notifychicago.org, and anyone needing air-conditioned relief can call 311 to find a cooling center or request a well-being check for an at-risk neighbor.

Those most at risk—older adults, children, pregnant people, and anyone with heart or lung conditions—should avoid all unnecessary time outdoors. The Chicago Park District has closed beaches and moved or canceled outdoor programs.

Residents are advised to stay inside as much as possible, keep windows closed, run air conditioning on recirculate to keep smoky air out, and run an air purifier on its highest setting if available. Anyone who must go outside should wear a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask, though health officials stress that a mask is not a substitute for staying indoors. Watch for symptoms like coughing, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, and call 911 for severe symptoms.

The National Weather Service has extended its air quality alert through Friday night for parts of northern Illinois and all of northwest Indiana.

The air quality index climbed above 450 during the day Thursday, ranking Chicago among the worst major cities in the world. It then jumped to over 600 on Thursday evening.

Officials are urging residents to stay indoors and keep windows closed.

Chicago's air quality has reached hazardous levels as smoke from Canadian wildfires settles over the region—the worst air quality in the city's recorded history, according to Mayor Brandon Johnson. At hazardous levels, the smoke is dangerous for everyone, not just sensitive groups.

Incident reported at Chicago.

For real-time local conditions, check AirNow.gov. Residents can sign up for emergency alerts through the OEMC app or at notifychicago.org, and anyone needing air-conditioned relief can call 311 to find a cooling center or request a well-being check for an at-risk neighbor.

Those most at risk—older adults, children, pregnant people, and anyone with heart or lung conditions—should avoid all unnecessary time outdoors. The Chicago Park District has closed beaches and moved or canceled outdoor programs.

Residents are advised to stay inside as much as possible, keep windows closed, run air conditioning on recirculate to keep smoky air out, and run an air purifier on its highest setting if available. Anyone who must go outside should wear a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask, though health officials stress that a mask is not a substitute for staying indoors. Watch for symptoms like coughing, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, and call 911 for severe symptoms.

The National Weather Service has extended its air quality alert through Friday night for parts of northern Illinois and all of northwest Indiana.

The air quality index climbed above 450 during the day Thursday, ranking Chicago among the worst major cities in the world. It then jumped to over 600 on Thursday evening.

Officials are urging residents to stay indoors and keep windows closed.

Chicago's air quality has reached hazardous levels as smoke from Canadian wildfires settles over the region—the worst air quality in the city's recorded history, according to Mayor Brandon Johnson. At hazardous levels, the smoke is dangerous for everyone, not just sensitive groups.

Incident reported at Chicago.