The National Weather Service has issued an air quality alert for Wednesday and warned of possible scattered thunderstorms starting in the afternoon into the night hours.
Officials released the alert Wednesday morning for McHenry, Lake, Kane, DuPage, Cook, Kendall, Grundy and Will counties. An air pollution action day also has been declared for the greater Chicago area due to the air being deemed a risk for those in sensitive groups. An action day is declared when ozone or particulate levels are expected to be at unhealthy levels for people sensitive to air quality.
“Active children and adults, especially people with pulmonary or respiratory disease such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor activity,” according to the weather service.
Later Wednesday, a hazardous weather outlook was forecast for north central and northeast Illinois, plus northwest Indiana. Officials said scattered thunderstorms are expected late Wednesday afternoon and tonight.
Though severe weather is not expected, heavy rainfall in some areas is possible, officials said.
Wednesday highs are expected to reach about 89 degrees with lows in the 70s at night.
For more updates, check the Tribune’s weather page.
