Chicago Faces Unhealthy Air Quality as Wildfire Smoke Returns
WHO:
ABC7 Chicago - Dr. Soledad Cortina, a cornea specialist with the Illinois Society for Eye Physicians and Surgeons and University of Illinois Chicago Department of Ophthalmology.
ABC7 Chicago - Patricia Ward, Head Scientist at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.
ABC7 Chicago - Dr. Juanita Mora of the American Lung Association.
NBC 5 Chicago - Pete Sack, NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist.
NBC 5 Chicago - Kevin Jeanes, NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist.
WHAT:
ABC7 Chicago - The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Chicago on Sunday was reported at 156, which is an improvement from the previous Thursday's AQI of 747.
NBC 5 Chicago - The National Weather Service indicated that the air quality alert will remain in effect until midnight on Monday for counties in northwest Indiana, including Lake, Porter, Newton, and Jasper.
NBC 5 Chicago - A Level 2 risk for severe weather is forecasted for most of the Chicago area on Monday, with expectations of mid-day showers and strong storms in the evening.
ABC7 Chicago - An Air Quality Alert is in effect for the Chicago area due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.
ABC7 Chicago - The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Chicago reached 747 on a previous Thursday and was 156 on a recent Sunday.
NBC 5 Chicago - A second round of wildfire smoke began rolling into the Chicago area late Saturday and is expected to linger into early Sunday.
NBC 5 Chicago - The National Weather Service extended the air quality alert through Sunday night for multiple counties in Illinois.
NBC 5 Chicago - An Areawide Air Pollution Action Day was issued for Sunday by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
WHERE:
ABC7 Chicago - Chicago area, including parts of northwest Indiana.
NBC 5 Chicago - Counties in Illinois affected include McHenry, Lake, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, and Cook.
NBC 5 Chicago - Counties in northwest Indiana affected include Lake, Porter, Newton, and Jasper.
WHEN:
ABC7 Chicago - The Air Quality Alert is in effect through Sunday and extended until Monday for parts of northwest Indiana.
NBC 5 Chicago - The air quality alert is expected to remain in effect through the end of the weekend.
WHY:
ABC7 Chicago - Health experts warned that the tiny particles in wildfire smoke can have lasting health effects, similar to those caused by tobacco smoke.
ABC7 Chicago - The return of wildfire smoke is attributed to Canadian wildfires.
ABC7 Chicago - Health experts warn that wildfire smoke contains harmful pollutants that can have lasting health effects.
HOW:
AP - Health officials recommend using air conditioning systems with MERV 13 filters or higher to clean indoor air during wildfire smoke events.
ABC7 Chicago - Meteorologists predict that a change in wind direction on Monday could help improve air quality.
NBC 5 Chicago - Recommendations include limiting outdoor activities for sensitive groups and keeping windows and doors closed to reduce smoke exposure.
(UPDATED July 19, 2026 20:14 UTC)
The Air Quality Index in Chicago has shown significant improvement, dropping to 156 after a staggering 747 just days earlier. However, an air quality alert will remain in effect until midnight on Monday for several counties in northwest Indiana, and a Level 2 risk for severe weather is expected in the Chicago area, with strong storms anticipated in the evening. Health experts advise using air conditioning systems equipped with MERV 13 filters or higher to help mitigate the health risks associated with wildfire smoke.
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(UPDATED July 19, 2026 19:20 UTC)
An Air Quality Alert is currently in effect for the Chicago area due to smoke from Canadian wildfires, with the Air Quality Index reaching a concerning 747 on a previous Thursday and 156 on a recent Sunday. The alert has been extended through Sunday night for multiple counties in Illinois, including Cook and DuPage, as well as parts of northwest Indiana, where an Areawide Air Pollution Action Day has been issued. Health experts advise limiting outdoor activities for sensitive groups and keeping windows and doors closed to reduce smoke exposure, although meteorologists predict that a change in wind direction on Monday could help improve air quality.