Popular Chicago area amusement park Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor will be closed Friday as air quality across northeast Illinois, northwest Indiana and all of Wisconsin remains smoke-filled and hazardous.
In a statement sent to NBC Chicago, the park, located in the far northern suburb of Gurnee, said the health and safety of guests and staff is “always a top priority.”
“Due to current air quality conditions and guidance from weather and safety experts, we have made the decision to close the park today,” the statement from a spokesperson said. “We appreciate our guests’ understanding and patience, and will continue to monitor conditions as we plan to reopen tomorrow as scheduled.
The closure comes as a heavy plume of smoke from wildfires burning in northern Ontario continues to cover the entire Chicago area. Air tracking website AirNow.gov reported air quality to be “hazardous,” which ranks as the highest level on the site’s AQI chart.
As of 10:30 a.m., air quality in Gurnee was ranking at 312 in a chart of 500.
“Everyone should stay indoors and reduce activity levels,” the air tracking website said.
Thursday, air quality in the Chicago suburb was even worse, reaching above 500 at times. The park was open much of the day Thursday, but closed at 3 p.m. due to conditions.
Multiple area beaches and pools also remain closed Friday, including all beaches and pools in the city of Chicago Chicago. The heavy wall of smoke was expected to start gradually moving out of Illinois and further into Michigan over the next 24 hours, NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said.
Winds shifting out of the southwest could allow the smoke to lift starting at about 12 p.m. Roman said.
“By evening hours, it does look a lot better,” she said.
Friday afternoon, air quality was expected to move up into the “unhealthy” or red category, which ranks as level three of six. That’s compared to the “hazardous” category, which ranks as level six.
“Still pretty bad by the afternoon,” Roman said. “But a lot better.”
Scattered showers and storms with heavy downpours at times were also possible Friday afternoon and evening Roman said.
Rain could “temporarily” relieve wildfire smoke, Roman said. But once it ends, smoky skies would return, leaving behind what many refer to as “dirty rain” on cars and homes.
“A heavy, prolonged rain, and a shift in winds — especially a wind shift, change in wind direction — will be the best best to remove smoke from the air,” Roman said.
By Saturday morning, the air quality was expected to improve even more, Roman said, into the “moderate” category, which ranks as level two.
Smoke could however move back in Saturday evening, Roman said, as winds shift out of the north.
“We do have the potential by Saturday to see light to moderate smoke moving in,” Roman said, starting about 8 or 9 p.m.
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