Air quality alert extended in parts of Chicago area as smoke could return ...Middle East

An air quality alert for much of the Chicago area has now been extended once again into the weekend.

The National Weather Service extended the alert through Saturday night for the following counties:

Illinois

NOTE: Alerts in DeKalb and LaSalle were not extended yet and remain in effect through Friday night.

Indiana

The extension comes as the smoke is expected to return Saturday, despite scattered showers and storms in the region both Friday and Saturday.

“The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the ‘Air Pollution Action Day’ designation will remain in effect for the greater Chicago Metropolitan Area through Saturday night July 18th,” the alert states. “Additionally, the ongoing ‘Purple Forecast Air Pollution Action Day’ designation also remains in effect until midnight tonight.”

A “purple forecast air pollution action day” is issued when levels reach the “very unhealthy” category, with air quality readings of between 201-300. Meanwhile, an “Air Pollution Action Day” is “declared when weather conditions are such that widespread ozone and or particulate levels are expected to be at or above the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups for multiple days.”

Scattered showers and storms are expected to develop Friday afternoon and continue through the evening, bringing threats of lightning strikes, heavy downpours and gusty winds in locations they hit.

Peak coverage is expected to be between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m., according to the NWS.

The rain and a change in winds are expected to ease smoky conditions by Friday evening and into Saturday morning.

But while storms aid in relief, it is only temporary, according to NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman.

“Rain could ‘temporarily’ relieve wildfire smoke, but once the rain ends, smoky skies may return,” Roman said, “Also, leaving behind the ‘dirty rain.’ A heavy prolonged rain and a shift in winds, especially a wind shift or change in wind direction will be the best best to remove smoke from the air.”

But the smoke could return.

Fellow NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Iisha Scott said while Saturday morning looks to stay clearer, the smoke is expected to come back again Saturday afternoon and evening and could stick around into Sunday.

“So we’re starting off good Saturday morning, but then that smoke will likely return as we get to Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening. And possibly becoming even thicker as we get into the day on Sunday,” Scott said.

Another round of storms Saturday could impact things, however. A second round of storms is expected to hit primarily south of Interstate 88.

“So some of those storms on Saturday could be strong, possibly severe,” Scott said. “One out of five risk for the majority of our viewing area. As you head farther south, a slightly higher risk for severe storms, with the main threats being damaging wind gusts and also heavy rain that could certainly lead to some localized flooding.”

With the shift in weather also comes a cold front that will send temps back into the 80s following extreme heat seen throughout this week.

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