Air quality drops to extremely hazardous levels across northern Illinois

Current Air Quality:

Yesterday's lake breeze helped keep the thickest plume of wildfire smoke at bay for much of Thursday afternoon. However, once the boundary retreated later in the day, denser smoke pushed back into the area, causing air quality to deteriorate significantly across much of the Stateline overnight. 

Rockford's air quality has deteriorated to extremely dangerous levels this morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 670, more than double the threshold for the "hazardous" category. This level of pollution poses a serious health risk to everyone, not just sensitive groups. If you need to head outdoors early today, limit your time outside as much as possible and consider wearing a properly fitted N95 mask. 

Those most vulnerable, including young children, older adults, and anyone with heart or lung conditions, should remain indoors until air quality improves. Even healthy individuals may experience eye, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, or difficulty breathing if exposed.  

Air Quality Alert:

Similar to yesterday, the EPA has kept most of the Stateline remains under an Air Quality Alert. The portion that contains northern Illinois will be in place through Friday night. Meanwhile, the portion of the alert that contains southern Wisconsin will stay in place until noontime today. 

  

When Will Conditions Improve? 

Skies are expected to remain hazy and smoke-filled through at least the morning hours, with air quality staying poor as smoke lingers near the surface. We should see conditions improve after the midday hours as surface winds take a turn to the southwest. That change in wind direction will help push some of the thicker, more hazardous smoke out of the northern Illinois area, leading to improving visibility and air quality as the afternoon progresses. 

Another Round?

Looking ahead to the weekend, a cold front is shown sweeping through Saturday afternoon. Behind it, we see a swap to a northwesterly surface wind, which may usher another plume of wildfire smoke into the Great Lakes by Sunday. As a result, hazy skies could once again grab weather headlines and the Stateline's air quality levels may take another hit.