St. Patrick's Day weekend has officially arrived, and residents outdoors for events like the Chicago River dyeing maybe noticed some hazy skies surrounding the Chicago skyline.
The clouded sights are not your imagination, as blowing dust and wildfire smoke approaching from the southwest that originated in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri has approached the area.
Weather officials advise residents to limit prolonged time outdoors Saturday, with a frontal passage later on in the day anticipated to provide some relief heading into the evening and Sunday morning.
Poor air quality is being observed today for Illinois and Indiana due to dust and smoke from Friday’s wildfires and blowing dust in the Southern Plains. Air quality is expected to be at unhealthy levels for everyone. Consider limiting prolonged outdoor activity. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/zLVQwkrXml
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) March 15, 2025
Air quality levels are expected to range between unhealthy for sensitive groups and unhealthy for everyone across the region for much of the daytime.
Individuals planning on spending time outdoors are advised to watch for symptoms such as shortness of breath, as well as to make activities both shorter and less intense.
The wildfire smoke and haze also played a role in lessening expected wind gusts Saturday morning, with a high wind warning downgraded to a wind advisory.
Local
According to the NWS, smoke and haze prevented the highest winds from mixing lower in towards the ground, leading to 60 mile-per-hour winds never materializing.
[11:02 AM CDT 3/15]
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) March 15, 2025
Why were the winds not as strong as expected? While it's still windy today (Midway Airport recently gusted to 52 mph), we suspect that the haze/dust/smoke in the air played a role in preventing the highest winds from mixing down this AM. #ILwx #INwx (1/2)
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter.
