Poor Air Quality Expected Tuesday For Chicago Area

Poor air quality is expected Tuesday, and an air quality alert is in effect until midnight Tuesday night.

The IEPA has issued an air pollution action day for Tuesday; which is declared when weather conditions are "such that widespread ozone and or particulate levels are expected to be at or above the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category of the Air Quality Index for multiple days."

According to AirNow.Gov, Joliet's air quality was listed as "moderate," as of 8 a.m. on Tuesday. There are six levels of air quality ratings: good, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy, very unhealthy and hazardous.

Sensitive groups include people with lung disease like asthma; kids and teens; older adults; and people who routinely active outdoors for six or more hours a day.

The weather service advised making outdoor activities shorter and less intense.

The Air Quality Alert was issued for McHenry, Lake, Kane, DuPage, Kendall, Grundy, Cook and Will counties.

Hot conditions with peak heat index values up to 105 degrees are also expected to continue through Thursday. Afternoon heat index values on Tuesday will peak around 100 degrees, according to the weather service.