Overview

• Smoke plumes from at least 22 active wildfires in Manitoba have entered the Chicago area as of May 30, triggering air quality alerts across Illinois and neighboring states.
• AirNow reported ‘moderate’ air quality levels in Chicago, which can irritate sensitive groups even though averages remain below unhealthy thresholds.
• The National Weather Service is advising residents to track live air quality indices online and limit outdoor exposure when particulate concentrations rise.
• AccuWeather forecasts indicate haze will drift into North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan over the dry and sunny weekend, potentially dimming the sun.
• Manitoba declared a state of emergency over the wildfires, forcing more than 17,000 evacuations and underscoring a fire season intensified by hot, dry conditions linked to climate change.