When will air quality improve? Smoky skies, severe storm chances with ‘all hazards' possible
The thick layer of wildfire smoke blanketing the Chicago area is expected to linger through at least the morning rush hour on Friday before hopefully being blown away by winds in the afternoon, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.
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National story. 28 articles from 8 sources. Updated Jul 20, 2026.
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1 sourceAir quality alert for Chicago extended through Monday as wildfire smoke from Canada lingers
Chicago sees slight air quality improvement, but smoky hazy persists
Air quality alert extends into day two as wildfire smoke from Canada shuts down beaches, venues citywide
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6 sourcesHow to check air quality near you, with some parts of the Chicago area worse than others
When will air quality improve? Smoky skies, severe storm chances with ‘all hazards' possible
When will Chicago air quality improve amid ongoing wildfire smoke concerns?
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1 sourceWildfire smoke could leave northern Illinois by Friday afternoon as pollutant levels drop
The story so far
4 developments- Jul 16When will the wildfire smoke in Chicago go away? Air quality improvement timeline
- Jul 16Chicago air quality remains at hazardous levels from Canadian wildfire smoke
- Jul 18Air quality alert in effect across Chicago area as second wave of smoke hits
- Jul 19Air quality alert extended in Chicago area as wildfire smoke lingers
Who covered each development
No new developments
Quiet for 91 daysLast development · Jul 19 — Air quality alert extended in Chicago area as wildfire smoke lingers