Air quality warning issued for Illinois for Monday; air quality ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ – NBC Chicago

The Illinois State Environmental Protection Agency issued an air quality warning on Monday, saying air quality is likely to reach levels that are “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

Air Pollution Action Day was declared by the IEPA for several counties in the Chicago area on Monday, citing “elevated ground-level ozone levels,” according to an IEPA press release. A similar air quality alert was also issued on Sunday.

The day of action includes Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, the press release said, and will remain in effect until midnight.

In Illinois, an Air Pollution Action Day is declared when air quality is forecast to reach or exceed the Orange or Unhealthy/Sensitive Groups category for two or more consecutive days.

According to AirNow, the Chicago-area air quality index was at “Moderate” as of 6 a.m. Monday, which is level two on a six-level scale. Later in the day, the AQI is expected to reach level three, “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.”

The AQI is measured by five major air pollutants, including ground-level ozone, particle pollution and others. Ozone levels tend to be elevated during hot spells, and when residents use air conditioning in their homes and businesses, higher levels of particle pollution are created, according to officials.

People with lung diseases and other risk factors such as asthma, children and adolescents, older adults and people who regularly spend six or more hours outdoors a day should reduce their time outdoors during the alert level, according to the authorities.

Anyone who fears they may be affected should look out for the following symptoms: wheezing, coughing, rapid
Heart palpitations, fatigue, chest pain, and shortness of breath. If symptoms worsen, call your doctor or 911.

According to the EPA, people are encouraged to take the following steps, especially on action days, to reduce their contribution to air pollution.

• Limit driving – combine errands, walking or biking when possible.
• Avoid idling while driving, running errands, and keeping your vehicle and other engines
  correctly coordinated.
• Save energy to reduce energy consumption.
• Use environmentally friendly household and cleaning products.
• Avoid using gasoline-powered equipment such as lawn mowers and leaf blowers.
• Notify colleagues, friends and family to help protect their health and encourage them to take appropriate action.

Weather in Chicago today: Temperatures will feel like 100 degrees

In addition to the air quality warning, Monday is expected to be a muggy and hot day, continuing a long streak of temperatures above 90 degrees and even higher heat indices, NBC 5’s storm team said.

MORE: Chicago’s public pools will open for the season on Monday – with one big change

“Every single day this week will bring temperatures in the 80s and high humidity,” said NBC 5 meteorologist Alicia Roman.

Highs of 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35.4 degrees Celsius) are forecast for the Chicago area on Monday, which could break the Chicago area record set in 1957, Roman said.

“No cooling off on the lakeshore today,” Roman stressed.

In addition, humidity on Monday will range between “humid” and “extreme,” Roman added, pointing to dew point temperatures between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius.

“Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate,” Roman warned.

MORE: How to protect yourself from heat-related illnesses when temperatures rise

There could also be isolated thunderstorms during the day on Monday, Roman said.

“With the heat of the day, there is a small chance of a storm,” Roman said. “Not everyone will see it.”

In places where storms occur, there could be short, heavy rains, Roman said.

Temperatures around 30 degrees and the likelihood of isolated storms will persist for the rest of the week, Roman said. Relief will only come at the weekend when a cold front passes through.

More showers and thunderstorms are expected at this time, Roman said, and temperatures will drop back to around 30 degrees on Sunday.