An air quality alert will remain in effect across much of the Chicago area through the end of the weekend as a second round of wildfire smoke is expected to roll in late Saturday.
Saturday provided a brief reprieve from the back-to-back days of smoky conditions, with air quality improving to moderate-to-good levels, and relatively good air quality stretching from New Lenox up to Libertyville and beyond, according to NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Pete Sack.
However, a second round of smoke began rolling back into the Chicago area in the late afternoon Saturday that is expected to linger into early Sunday. The smoke will likely start to get thicker between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday, according to NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes.
Hazy sky in Chicago around 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026.The smoke arriving on Saturday is not expected to be as dense as what Chicago saw on Thursday when its AQI was the worst of any major city in the world. Still, smoke and air quality forecasts can change quickly, so you’ll want to pay close attention if you have any outdoor plans this weekend.
The National Weather Service extended the air quality alert through Sunday night for the following counties in Illinois:
McHenry Lake DeKalb Kane DuPage LaSalle Kendall Grundy Kankakee Northern, central and southern Cook Northern, southern and eastern Will“Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected,” NWS warned.
NWS also said sensitive groups should “make outdoor activities shorter and less intense.”
“It’s ok to be active outdoors but take more breaks. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath,” officials said.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued an Areawide Air Pollution Action Day for Sunday in addition to the ongoing Chicago Air Pollution Action Day in effect on Saturday.
“An Areawide Air Pollution Action Day is declared when weather conditions are such that widespread ozone and or particulate levels are forecast to be at OR ABOVE the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) category in nearly all Illinois AQI forecast sectors,” Illinois EPA said. “Areas both inside and outside of the Action Day coverage area may experience smoke to a varying degree and duration both later today and Sunday.”
In Northwest Indiana, an air quality alert is also in effect in the following counties until midnight on Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
Lake Porter Newton JasperThe Indiana Department of Environmental Management also declared an Air Quality Action Day until midnight on Monday.
“A combination of fine particulate and ozone levels are expected to be in the unhealthy for sensitive groups range. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exposure,” the National Weather Service said in a message about the Air Quality Action Day in Indiana. “Due to observed and forecasted high concentrations of pm2.5 readings in the area, recommendations are for the public to avoid or limit outdoor exposure to wildfire smoke, reduce or avoid exertion or heavy work outdoors and keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.”
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