Air Quality Alert, Extreme Heat On Memorial Day In Illinois

With temperatures expected to soar well into the 90s on Memorial Day and an air quality alert in place, Illinois residents should use caution if they're celebrating the unofficial start of summer outdoors or attending a Memorial Day commemoration. The Illinois EPA has issued an air quality alert for most of the Chicago area through midnight Tuesday.

"Active children and adults, especially people with pulmonary or respiratory disease such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor activity," the National Weather Service said. According to the air quality index, too much time outside could be unhealthy for sensitive groups on Monday.

Monday will also be a hot one, with temperatures hitting the mid-90s in some parts of northern Illinois. The steamy forecast has prompted some towns, including Naperville, to cancel their Memorial Day parades.

Chicagoland Guide to Memorial Day Fests, Parades, Ceremonies

It was so hot Sunday that concrete began buckling along Route 59 in the Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield areas. According to the NWS, the mercury hit 98 degrees at the Morris airport, 97 degrees at the Joliet Regional Airport and 96 at Chicago Midway.

Some heat safety tips from the NWS:

• Never leave kids or pets unattended in vehicles
• Stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade or air conditioning
• Limit strenuous outdoor activities

Here's a look at the hourly forecast for Memorial Day:

Partly cloudy starting tomorrow afternoon, continuing until tomorrow evening.

5am - Clear, 71°

Chance of rain: 3%. Wind 4 mph from the SW.

6am - Clear, 72°

Chance of rain: 1%. Wind 4 mph from the W.

7am - Clear, 75°

Chance of rain: 2%. Wind 4 mph from the WSW.

8am - Clear, 80°

Chance of rain: 1%. Wind 4 mph from the SSW.

9am - Clear, 85°

Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 4 mph from the E.

10am - Clear, 89°

Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 4 mph from the W.

11am - Clear, 91°

Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 5 mph from the W.

12pm - Clear, 93°

Chance of rain: 1%. Wind 7 mph from the ESE.

1pm - Clear, 93°

Chance of rain: 1%. Wind 8 mph from the SE.

2pm - Clear, 94°

Chance of rain: 1%. Wind 8 mph from the SE.

3pm - Clear, 93°

Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 7 mph from the SSE.

4pm - Partly Cloudy, 93°

Chance of rain: 1%. Wind 6 mph from the SSE.

5pm - Partly Cloudy, 93°

Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 5 mph from the SSE.

6pm - Clear, 93°

Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 4 mph from the SSE.

7pm - Clear, 92°

Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 4 mph from the SSE.

8pm - Clear, 89°

Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 4 mph from the SE.

9pm - Clear, 85°

Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 3 mph from the SE.

10pm - Clear, 82°

Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 4 mph from the ESE.

Data provided by darksky.net.

Photo via Shutterstock