CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Canadian wildfire smoke will once again cause poor air quality in the Chicago area today.
An Air Quality Alert remains in effect until midnight. The Illinois EPA along with IDEM in Indiana has declared Wednesday as an Air Pollution Action Day.
For a second consecutive day, the EPA’s AQI (Air quality index) for the area is expected to stand at an unhealthy level. The forecasted PM (particulate matter) 2.5 value for the area will range from 150 to 200, out of a 400 scale. To put that in perspective, an AQI ranging from 0 to 50 is considered good air quality.
The EPA suggests those with heart or lung disease, older adults as well as children and teens to avoid physical outdoor activities. For the rest of the population, they advise to keep outdoor activities short and possibly even move physical activities indoors.
The air quality, however, is expected to gradually improve these next two days, with rain in the forecast. By Friday, air quality should be closer to normal.
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