IL Air Quality Among Worst In World As Wildfire Smoke Lingers

ILLINOIS — Friday will be yet another hazy day as unhealthy air quality due to Canadian wildfire smoke continues, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service advised limiting or postponing prolonged outdoor activity, especially for sensitive groups.

According to IQAir, Chicago had the 10th worst air quality in the world on Friday morning. The only other U.S. city that was ranked worse was Detroit at number 7.

AirNow rated the air quality at 110 for Chicago, which places it in the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" category, especially posing a risk to people with respiratory diseases like asthma, as well as older adults. According to the Illinois EPA, wildfire smoke is at surface levels today and will likely linger at the surface into Saturday.

"Models continue to underpredict the amount of smoke reaching parts of central Illinois as well," the IEPA said.

The National Weather Service advised, "Everyone should reduce prolonged activities or heavy exertion outdoors. Active children, older adults, and people with pulmonary or respiratory disease such as asthma should avoid prolonged activities or heavy exertion outdoors."

As for the weather this weekend, seasonable temperatures will continue into the weekend and early work week. Friday has a high of 79, Saturday a high of 79 and Sunday a high of 80, according to the weather service.

"While plenty of dry time is expected, showers are possible at times in parts of the area late Saturday afternoon through Monday," the weather service said.

Sunday afternoon is most likely to have the highest chance of scattered storms, especially northwest of Interstate 55.

Here's a look at the daily forecast, as per the weather service:

FRIDAY: Partly sunny, with a high near 76. East northeast wind around 5 mph.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

SATURDAY: A 20 percent chance of showers after 4 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

SATURDAY NIGHT: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

SUNDAY: A chance of showers between 1 and 4 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

SUNDAY NIGHT: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.