Poor Air Quality Expected Wednesday For Chicago Area

ILLINOIS ? An air quality alert has been issued for Wednesday in the Chicago area, as poor air quality is expected.

According to the National Weather Service, the IEPA declared an air pollution action day for Wednesday. An action day is declared when "weather conditions are such that widespread ozone and or particulate levels are expected to be at or above the unhealthy for sensitive groups category of the air quality index."

People with pulmonary or respiratory disease should limit prolonged outdoor activity, the weather service said.

There is also an elevated fire risk on Wednesday, due to the dry conditions and gusty winds expected.

According to AirNow.gov, Joliet will reach the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" level on Wednesday. Air quality levels are expected to go back to "moderate" on Thursday and Friday.

AirNow advised checking the forecast for air quality to see if there are times when quality might be okay for outdoor activities.

"Ozone is often lower in the morning," according to the AirNow website.

Wednesday is also the first day of astronomical summer, which officially begins at 9:57 a.m., according to the weather service. Dry weather will continue through at least Saturday.