Air quality has taken a noticeable hit across northern Illinois this morning as a thicker plume of Canadian wildfire smoke drifts southward. The combination of smoke aloft and increasing concentration closer to the ground has resulted in significantly hazier skies and more importantly, unhealthy air quality. In Rockford, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has climbed into the "Unhealthy" category, meaning everyone may begin to experience health effects, with sensitive groups facing an even greater risk. If you plan on spending extended time outdoors today, consider limiting any strenuous activities and keep an close eye on air quality levels.
As mentioned yesterday, the Air Quality Alert has been expanded to include additional counties across northern Illinois. This portion of the alert will be in place until midnight tonight while those north of the Illinois/Wisconsin border will be under the air quality alert until noontime today.
Smoke is expected to remain fairly thick across the Stateline through much of the morning and into the early portions of the afternoon, resulting in continued hazy skies and poor air quality.
Conditions should gradually improve as we progress through the day Friday as surface winds will change to the southwest. That wind change will help usher in cleaner air into the region, allowing the thickest smoke to begin moving northeast.
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