People may want to consider wearing an N95 mask if they have to work or be outside Thursday, Lisa Chavarria reports.
According to new data, the air quality in the city of Chicago is now the worst of any major city in the world.
That data from IQAir, taken on Thursday afternoon, shows Chicago with a composite air quality index (AQI) of 402, which is far into levels considered “hazardous” by experts.
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The new AQI number puts Chicago ahead of Detroit and Minneapolis among the worst air quality in the entire world, with Lahore, Pakistan and New York City rounding out the top five, according to the website.
Wildfire smoke has been billowing into the Chicago area throughout the day from fires that are burning in parts of Canada, as well as in northern Minnesota. That smoke caused air quality to rapidly drop in Minnesota and Wisconsin on Wednesday, and the smoke is now firmly planted over Chicago and several other major Midwestern cities.
The National Weather Service has already extended its air quality alert for the Chicago area until at least Friday afternoon, with the smoke continuing to worsen into the late afternoon and evening hours on Thursday according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.
The Illinois EPA has also urged residents to remain indoors as much as possible due to the hazardous air quality conditions, which also led to the cancellation of the Chicago Fire game vs. the Vancouver Whitecaps, as well as several other major events across the region.
As for when the smoke may begin to dissipate, forecast models indicate that smoke may start to slowly leave the area Friday afternoon, but air quality will still be a concern even as that occurs.
Stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team for all the latest weather news and information, and be sure to download the NBC Chicago app for real-time weather alerts sent to your phone.