<div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/07/17/air-quality-alert-extends-into-day-two-as-wildfire-smoke-from-canada-shuts-down-beaches-venues-citywide" >Air quality alert for Chicago, Day 2, as wildfire smoke from Canada shuts down beaches, venues</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>Chicagoans woke up to the smell and taste of thick smoke Friday, an unpleasant start to the summer day.</p><p>Polluted air from Canadian wildfire smoke made it dangerous for anyone to be outside for long periods of time, government officials warned.</p><p>Beaches in Chicago and Evanston were closed due to the air quality and all outdoor park district programs were moved indoors. <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/07/17/air-quality-alert-extends-into-day-two-as-wildfire-smoke-from-canada-shuts-down-beaches-venues-citywide" >Organizers for several events </a>planned for later in the day were waiting to make final decisions about whether to cancel.</p><p>Here’s what else you need to know about how long the smoky air will stick around and what it means for your health.</p><h3>Why is the air quality so bad?</h3><p>The drop in air quality is due to smoke from more than 800 Canadian wildfires burning – many out of control.</p><p>The National Weather Service says some of the fires are close to the northern border of the United States. Wind patterns are pushing the smoke south and into the Chicago area.</p><p>The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency declared an Air Pollution Action Day for Chicago and Northern Illinois Friday and individuals were urged to limit prolonged outdoor activity and take more frequent breaks.</p><p>Chicago’s Air Quality Index for Friday ranged from very unhealthy to hazardous – the two most severe levels on the Air Quality Index.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-8c0000" name="image-8c0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d66417a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4691x2633+0+246/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F6a%2F732134324ecc8d7b192067b65f9c%2Fairqualityalert-260717-06.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c8291dc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4691x2633+0+246/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F6a%2F732134324ecc8d7b192067b65f9c%2Fairqualityalert-260717-06.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b4d03bf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4691x2633+0+246/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F6a%2F732134324ecc8d7b192067b65f9c%2Fairqualityalert-260717-06.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="Wildfire smoke covers the city as viewed from Navy Pier, Thursday, July 16, 2026." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b4d03bf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4691x2633+0+246/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F6a%2F732134324ecc8d7b192067b65f9c%2Fairqualityalert-260717-06.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9ba5f78/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4691x2633+0+246/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F6a%2F732134324ecc8d7b192067b65f9c%2Fairqualityalert-260717-06.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b4d03bf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4691x2633+0+246/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F6a%2F732134324ecc8d7b192067b65f9c%2Fairqualityalert-260717-06.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Wildfire smoke covers the city Thursday, as viewed from Navy Pier.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p></p><h3>How widespread is the smoke across Chicago?</h3><p>Canadian wildfire smoke has had a lingering effect on the Chicago area’s air quality over the last three years, including last June when the city’s air <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2025/06/05/air-quality-alert-issued-throughout-chicago-area-due-to-canadian-wildfire-smoke" target="_blank" ><u>ranked among the worst in the world</u></a> due to the smoke.</p><p>A map of city air monitors shows a large swath of “very unhealthy” air quality covering most of the city with “hazardous” readings in northern neighborhoods Rogers Park, Edgewater, West Ridge and Lake View.