Smoke Forecast: 250+ PM2.5 Here
Smoke and haze conditions worsened Tuesday, June 27, 2023 with the EPA reporting a Suspended particulate matter (SPM) or fine particles, designated PM2.5, with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less at 209. According to the FireSmoke Canada map PM2.5 was forecast to exceed 250 μm/m^3 of air sampled. If the Chicago area exceeds 250 for the PM2.5 reading, it is likely to happen between 11:30 a.m. and about 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
UPDATE …
AQI 228 around 12:30 PM
AQI 250 around 01:00 PM
Smoke and haze was noticeable Monday, along with the odor of something burning in Arlington Heights, and the City of Chicago and other areas of Chicagoland beginning about 5:00 p.m. Monday, June 26, 2023. RED Center fire dispatch took a few calls from concerned residents reporting the odor of smoke in the neighborhood. On two separate call, the caller reported the odor as a plastic burning smell. Apparently the upper air travel of smoke and particles from Canada wildfires gives off a sort of burning plastic smell along with the burning wood smell.
On Tuesday, the Low Pressure System that is drawing smoke-filled air from Canada wildfires, has moved from just north of Detroit, Michigan (Monday) to just northeast of Toronto. Ironically, the smoke particles are worse near the Great Lakes and in states south of the Great Lakes, compared to the region near the Canada wildfires.
The wind in northeast Illinois Tuesday morning was from the northwest and carrying smoke south from Canada. As the Low Pressure moved northeast, winds in northeast Illinois and Chicagoland shifted from the North. NWS Chicago at O’Hare reported wind from the North at 10 MPH with smoke and visibility 1.5 miles. Visibility in Chicagoland is normally at least 10 miles. Air temperature is also cooler than normal with a reading of only 71°F.
Winds were from the west until about noon Monday, and shifted from the northwest for the remainder of Monday. However, the big transporter of Canadian wildfire smoke is a Low Pressure area centered north of Detroit over the southern region of Lake Huron. Low Pressure systems spin counterclockwise, so wind is drawing smoke and particles south from the area of Ontario and western Quebec and south through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and northern Illinois.
Disclaimer: The information, maps and data services available through the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System are approximations based on available data, and may not show the most current fire situation. For additional maps and information on the current conditions, please visit the fire management agency website for your region of interest (province, territory or park).
Wildfires are occurring across the southern tier of provinces in Canada from Quebec to British Columbia. According to the FireM3 Hotspots map for June 26, 2023 from the Canadian government, the greatest amount of fire activity is in southwest Quebec. The current Low Pressure system near Detroit at 6:00 p.m. Monday, June 26, 2023 is drawing smoke from east to west over southwest Quebec, and carrying smoke and particles south over western Michigan, Lake Michigan, eastern Wisconsin, and northeast Illinois.
Smoke from Ontario is pushing south toward the rest of the upper Midwest including northern Illinois and the rest of Illinois, Iowa, eastern Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Other states, including Indiana are also affected.
Haze was already noticeable Monday around 5:00 p.m. with tree lines as little as a half block distance noticeably obscured by the haze from the Canadian wildfire smoke.
According to the National Weather Service Office Chicago, northeast Illinois will see a decrease in cloud cover Tuesday, but northerly winds will result in a return of the Canadian wildfire smoke Monday night and through at least Tuesday night. Hazy conditions across the area are forecast for Tuesday, with possible visibility restrictions down as low as a few miles. Visibility was already affected in Wisconsin Monday, and NWS forecasters expect visibility to be affected in Illinois Tuesday.
High temperatures Tuesday will begin moderating (warming compared to Monday), with inland readings likely climbing into the lower 80s. Onshore flow will result in cooler weather along the Lake Michigan lakeshore.
The National Weather Service alerts appear to focus more on Ozone compared to suspended particulate matter PM2.5
BAD AIR …
According to the FireSmoke Canada map from the Weather Forecast Research Team at the University of British Columbia (with support from multiple agencies), PM2.5 may be higher than 250 μm/m^3 beginning about 8:00 p.m. Monday, June 26, 2023 and continuing until about 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, 2023. There may be a dip to about 120 μm/m^3 for a few hours after midnight Monday/Tuesday (See also firesmoke.ca).
Suspended particulate matter (SPM) or fine particles, designated PM2.5, with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less may be at the worst levels from around 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
On AirNow.gov from the EPA, Arlington Heights and City of Chicago AQI was reported at 161 at 6:00 p.m. Monday. An AQI of 250 is in the second worst category of the AQI index indicating a health alert when the risk of health effects is increased for everyone. You can view the AQI anytime on CARDINAL NEWS at Arlingtoncardinal.com/air [NOTE: The AQI on Apple iPhone tends to be a little lower than the report from the EPA’s website AirNow.gov.]
Satellite view showing counter clockwise spin centered over southern Lake Huron Monday June 26, 2023 from about 11:26 a.m. CT to 5:11 p.m. CT YouTube Tips ⓘ
AQI PM2.5 was 300 to 500 two weeks ago — around June 7, 2023.
Canada wildfire smoke over NYC: 4 p.m. Wednesday June 7, 2026 update YouTube Tips ⓘ