Wildfire smoke from fires burning in northern Ontario was once again leading to hazy skies and unhealthy air quality in the Chicago area, with an air quality alert in effect through Monday night.
Early Monday morning, most air quality index readings in northeastern Illinois according to AirNow.gov were in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category, which ranks as level three of six. Some parts of the Chicago area saw air quality even worse, with numbers over 150, NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said.
The light to moderate smoke was expected to taper overnight, but there’s a “renewed chance” for light wildfire smoke Tuesday.
“We may get a little better throughout the day Tuesday,” Roman said. “At least we stay under that lighter smoke.”
Before that, scattered strong to severe storms could develop, Roman said, starting about 4 p.m. in counties to the north.
The storm chances led the Storm Prediction Center to place much of the Chicago area under a “slight” risk of severe weather, which ranks as level two of five.
If storms do materialize, some gusty, winds, localized flooding and heavy downpours were possible, Roman said. Damaging winds were the biggest threat, the National Weather Service said, though “all weather hazards are possible, including tornadoes, damaging hail and flash flooding.”
Whether storms develop or not will depend on storm trends to the west earlier in the day.
“The favored outcome is an isolated to scattered severe threat, although more widespread coverage of severe storms is possible,” the NWS said.
The severe storm potential this evening will be shaped by storm trends out west earlier today. There are a couple of ways tonight could play out. The favored outcome is an isolated to scattered severe threat, although more widespread coverage of severe storms is possible.(?2/4) pic.twitter.com/TfM4uqSfoQ
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) July 20, 2026Storm chances remain in the forecast overnight, Roman said, through about 1 a.m. The rain could help the hazy skies and smoke, but that wouldn’t last long.
“Rain is just a temporary relief,” Roman said. “You need a wind shift to really get rid of it.”
Temperatures Monday will be in the 80s, with temperatures dropping into the 70s by Wednesday but bumping back up into the 80s and low 90s for the upcoming weekend.
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