An air quality alert was in effect for a second day in northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, with quality expected to decrease into the “unhealthy for some” category as the heat and humidity rise.
The alert comes as the second heat wave of the season for the Chicago area continues. Tuesday, a high temperature of 98 degrees is expected, with heat indices reaching 100 or even higher for some parts.
As of Tuesday morning, air quality according to AirNow.gov was in the “moderate” category for the Chicago area, which ranks as level two of five. NBC 5 traffic reporter Kye Martin noted the Kennedy Expressway traffic cameras were already capturing the hazy skies.
“Once we get the heating of the day going, it could jump to ‘unhealthy for some,'” NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said, which ranks as level three.
Once air quality reaches that category, active children and adults — especially those with pulmonary or respiratory diseases like asthma — should limit prolonged outdoor activity, the National Weather Service said.
The air quality alert comes alongside an “Air Pollution Action Day” issued for Tuesday by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, with Ozone as the primary pollutant. In addition to limiting outdoor activity, officials are also asking that people reduce pollution levels in the following ways:
Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation. Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip. Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m. Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30 seconds. Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or above.The NWS also issued heat advisories for LaPorte County, expiring at 8 p.m.
“Heat index values up to near 100 degrees expected,” the NWS said. “Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.”
Hot and humid conditions will continue through the work week, Roman said, with high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s each day and temperatures feeling like 100 degrees, or even a degree or two higher. Rain chances could move in Thursday, with more chances for scattered storms Friday and Saturday.
Next week, temperatures will dip slightly lower, Roman said, into the 80s.
What is the Air Quality Index?
According to officials, the Air Quality Index, or the AQI, is used by the Environmental Protection Agency to communicate to the public air quality levels, and how they can impact day-to-day life.
To check the air quality level in your area right now, click here.
There are six different levels of air quality, and they’re all color-coded to illustrate changes in quality and how they impact residents.
Typically, anything above 100 is considered to be hazardous to at least some groups, and anything over 150 is considered to be “unhealthy,” posing issues to the general public.
The six categories include: green, or good; yellow, or moderate; orange, or unhealthy for sensitive groups; red, or unhealthy; purple, or very unhealthy; and maroon, or hazardous.
Daily AQI ColorLevels of ConcernValues of IndexDescription of Air QualityGreenGood0 to 50Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.YellowModerate51 to 100Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.OrangeUnhealthy for Sensitive Groups101 to 150Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.RedUnhealthy151 to 200Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.PurpleVery Unhealthy201 to 300Health alert: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.MaroonHazardous301 and higherHealth warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected.How to find the air quality level in your area
AirNow provides a tool for residents to search their ZIP code to see what their forecasted air quality is, both in real time and for the days ahead.
For a more granular look, the website also offers information on different measurement stations around the area in real-time, allowing residents to track air quality in areas near their homes.
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