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mahatmakanejeeves

(67,188 posts)
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 04:21 PM Jun 2023

Chicago has the worst air quality in the world due to Canadian wildfire smoke

Source: CBS News

U.S.

Chicago has the worst air quality in the world due to Canadian wildfire smoke

BY CAITLIN O'KANE
UPDATED ON: JUNE 27, 2023 / 4:02 PM / CBS NEWS

Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit had some of the worst air quality in the world Tuesday as wildfire smoke from Quebec, Canada, seeps into the Midwest. The raging fires have been impacting parts of the U.S. since earlier this month, and all three cities hit the purple zone of the AQI, or air quality index. ... At one point on Tuesday, Chicago was at level 228, veering into the purple or "very unhealthy" zone, and nearby Milwaukee was at level 221, according to AirNow, a government site that measures air quality.

Maps that depict the current air quality in the U.S. show Illinois, Wisconsin and parts of surrounding states like Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan are in the red or "unhealthy" zone and some people may experience health effects, according to AirNow.

The East Coast of the U.S., which suffered dangerous air quality from the Canadian wildfires earlier this month, now appears mostly clear, but some areas are in the yellow or "moderate" zone, which means the air quality is acceptable but could pose a risk for some people.

According to IQ Air, which monitors the air quality index around the world, major midwestern cities Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit had some of the worst air quality in the world, with Dubai as well as Lahore and Karachi, Pakistan, also high on the list. Chicago topped the list at times Tuesday.

{snip}

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chicago-worst-air-quality-canadian-wildfire-smoke-june-27-2023/



A couple of weeks ago, it was New York City's turn. Now it's Chicago's turn. It's a tie: Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit.
43 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Chicago has the worst air quality in the world due to Canadian wildfire smoke (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2023 OP
Yeah not just the cities... MiHale Jun 2023 #1
mmm hmm GenXer47 Jun 2023 #2
'money can't buy you love' speak easy Jun 2023 #7
It's pretty bad here. greatauntoftriplets Jun 2023 #3
Out Here, Too ProfessorGAC Jun 2023 #10
I walked outside today and thought my neighbor's house was on fire. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2023 #24
Lagrange, eh? Used to live in Downers Grove, bro' James lives still in Woodridge. Glad I'm in FL... machoneman Jun 2023 #38
That's my stompin' grounds. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2023 #40
This message was self-deleted by its author machoneman Jun 2023 #39
It was very bad here (Minneapolis) this morning but it's improved this afternoon. Ocelot II Jun 2023 #4
It's pretty bad here in Lansing, MI, too. Haze is pretty thick and I can actually smell it. catbyte Jun 2023 #5
I just got in from outside and had that exact thought Sogo Jun 2023 #6
Windy city should blow it away soon IronLionZion Jun 2023 #8
southeast Iowa here - it's been pretty bad all day rurallib Jun 2023 #9
Fort Madison on YouTube: mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2023 #18
Montreal had the worst two days ago. cbabe Jun 2023 #11
Bout time those Canucks - stopped starting those forest fires. NotANeocon Jun 2023 #12
People are saying, they should rake their forests AllyCat Jun 2023 #30
We just went to red a few hours ago in MI. louis-t Jun 2023 #13
I am in Flint... rogerballard Jun 2023 #14
I'm about 130 miles south of Chicago and you can't see sinkingfeeling Jun 2023 #15
Good luck to you all & our Canadians! NYC'r.. . electric_blue68 Jun 2023 #16
I live about 5 miles North of Chicago. Air is worst it's ever been. Do you want air quality in.... Stuart G Jun 2023 #17
Very useful. Ty. Got after you, or whoever first recommend it about 2 wks ago when the smoke hit... electric_blue68 Jul 2023 #43
We've been in the 220s all day here in Michigan Novara Jun 2023 #19
I'm in So. Illinois AwakeAtLast Jun 2023 #20
250 this afternoon in the Land Just Beyond O'Hare. Gidney N Cloyd Jun 2023 #21
milwaukee was Worse when i checked. was really bad earlier. pansypoo53219 Jun 2023 #22
It was pretty bad here today, in Chicago. lees1975 Jun 2023 #23
Not sure Air.gov is accurate PlutosHeart Jun 2023 #25
Detroit has an orange demilune. Kid Berwyn Jun 2023 #26
Post removed Post removed Jun 2023 #27
I love the smell of nuked spam in the morning. It smells like ... victory. NT mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2023 #28
Oh! What'd we miss? AllyCat Jun 2023 #31
Purely commercial. Didn't even try to hide it. mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2023 #32
Good morning! AllyCat Jun 2023 #33
Just opened my picture window curtains and Emile Jun 2023 #29
It was 240 yesterday where I am in northern Michigan. James48 Jun 2023 #34
Appears that this is from N of Lake Superior, not Quebec 4dog Jun 2023 #35
It's affecting us here in Minnesota iemanja Jun 2023 #36
Did a driving gig for some friends with a farm John Ludi Jun 2023 #37
It's been pretty bad here in Indianapolis. Jokerman Jun 2023 #41
We had hazy air later yesterday the sun at like 5:30+ was already orange electric_blue68 Jul 2023 #42

MiHale

(12,288 posts)
1. Yeah not just the cities...
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 04:26 PM
Jun 2023

Little disconcerting to smell and see wood smoke/haze when you live in a forest.

Northern Michigan.

 

GenXer47

(1,204 posts)
2. mmm hmm
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 04:31 PM
Jun 2023

Heat the planet, extend the beetles breeding season. The beetles kill the trees, and they burn.

ProfessorGAC

(74,939 posts)
10. Out Here, Too
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 05:25 PM
Jun 2023

We're 60 miles from downtown and there's a persistent haze all day.
Actually enough that it smells like wood smoke outside.

Hassin Bin Sober

(27,299 posts)
24. I walked outside today and thought my neighbor's house was on fire.
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 10:40 PM
Jun 2023

I got in the car expecting to see fire fire trucks in the neighborhood on the way to Home Depot.

Ogden Avenue in Lagrange and western springs was all hazed over.

I still can’t believe it’s from Canada.

machoneman

(4,128 posts)
38. Lagrange, eh? Used to live in Downers Grove, bro' James lives still in Woodridge. Glad I'm in FL...
Thu Jun 29, 2023, 07:53 AM
Jun 2023

...now but feel for all you Illinoisans. Hope that smoke goes away pronto.

Response to Hassin Bin Sober (Reply #24)

Ocelot II

(127,932 posts)
4. It was very bad here (Minneapolis) this morning but it's improved this afternoon.
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 04:44 PM
Jun 2023

It's hazy but it no longer actually stinks.

catbyte

(38,114 posts)
5. It's pretty bad here in Lansing, MI, too. Haze is pretty thick and I can actually smell it.
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 04:55 PM
Jun 2023

It irritated my throat and nasal passages when I took my cat Rosie out for her walk. Needless to say, it was a short one today. I can't imagine what it's like in Canada. I don't think I've ever seen it this bad.

Sogo

(6,726 posts)
6. I just got in from outside and had that exact thought
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 04:58 PM
Jun 2023

"I don't think I've ever seen it this bad."


Eastern Iowa....

cbabe

(5,787 posts)
11. Montreal had the worst two days ago.
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 05:44 PM
Jun 2023
https://montrealgazette.com › news › local-news › wildfire-smoke-montreal-has-worlds-worst-air-quality-today

Wildfire smoke: Montreal has world's worst air quality today

2 days agoAs of Sunday morning, Montreal had the worst air quality in the world, according to a ranking of major cities by IQAir. Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your...

AllyCat

(18,293 posts)
30. People are saying, they should rake their forests
Wed Jun 28, 2023, 07:21 AM
Jun 2023

I’ve heard that novel strategy before…

louis-t

(24,508 posts)
13. We just went to red a few hours ago in MI.
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 05:58 PM
Jun 2023

It's really hazy. Wind out of the north. If the wind changes, we will be ok by tomorrow. I guess I won't go out and cut the grass. Yay!

rogerballard

(4,017 posts)
14. I am in Flint...
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 06:00 PM
Jun 2023

About an hour north of Detroit, not good here. Have a small and large air purifier on full blast. I use 2 different inhalers daily. Staying indoors that is for sure. Air quality is around 228. I hate this.

sinkingfeeling

(56,657 posts)
15. I'm about 130 miles south of Chicago and you can't see
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 06:11 PM
Jun 2023

2 blocks down the street today. It smells like burning leaves.

electric_blue68

(24,526 posts)
16. Good luck to you all & our Canadians! NYC'r.. .
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 06:26 PM
Jun 2023

I was napping when the orange sky hit but yeah we had our 2+ days of smokey smelling air.

Definitely stronger than the Tennessee, or Kentucky one back in the ?early '90's.

Stuart G

(38,726 posts)
17. I live about 5 miles North of Chicago. Air is worst it's ever been. Do you want air quality in....
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 06:44 PM
Jun 2023
your area? (Federal Government site that gives air quality all over the United States (in your area too):

YES, EVERYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

Air quality in your area go to the following address:
Air Now. Gov...at link below

https://www.airnow.gov/

electric_blue68

(24,526 posts)
43. Very useful. Ty. Got after you, or whoever first recommend it about 2 wks ago when the smoke hit...
Sat Jul 1, 2023, 03:26 PM
Jul 2023

NYC.

Novara

(6,115 posts)
19. We've been in the 220s all day here in Michigan
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 07:01 PM
Jun 2023

It looks foggy out but it's smoke. And you can smell it. Ugh.

Gidney N Cloyd

(19,847 posts)
21. 250 this afternoon in the Land Just Beyond O'Hare.
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 08:28 PM
Jun 2023

Hazy and it smells like a burning Sweatsock Tree.

lees1975

(6,802 posts)
23. It was pretty bad here today, in Chicago.
Tue Jun 27, 2023, 10:05 PM
Jun 2023

It was noticeable, not only because it was so thick and hazy, but being outside, I got a burning sensation in my eyes and throat.

PlutosHeart

(1,445 posts)
25. Not sure Air.gov is accurate
Wed Jun 28, 2023, 12:07 AM
Jun 2023

since I live in mid-MN and between haze and occasional weird haze/sun it said were just under the orange warning (moderate) yet I woke up totally stuffed up. Odd chem smell off and on. Also, my chest sort of bothers me the last two days. I stay indoors pretty much all the time. My cats are sneezing and have gummy eyes and they do not go out either.

The moon had a total haze on it tonight.

Kid Berwyn

(22,164 posts)
26. Detroit has an orange demilune.
Wed Jun 28, 2023, 12:51 AM
Jun 2023

Same thing happened last time ash, dust, smoke and gas from Canada’s boreal fires were blown this way.

Response to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

mahatmakanejeeves

(67,188 posts)
32. Purely commercial. Didn't even try to hide it.
Wed Jun 28, 2023, 07:25 AM
Jun 2023

It was from a non-English-speaking bot and translated, somewhat, into English.

It was a really bad effort.

And good morning.

Emile

(38,562 posts)
29. Just opened my picture window curtains and
Wed Jun 28, 2023, 06:16 AM
Jun 2023

Western Indiana looks like it's on fire. Looks like it is going to be another smokey day here.

James48

(5,014 posts)
34. It was 240 yesterday where I am in northern Michigan.
Wed Jun 28, 2023, 09:24 AM
Jun 2023

Higher than Chicago. Just saying. You could chew the air.

4dog

(534 posts)
35. Appears that this is from N of Lake Superior, not Quebec
Wed Jun 28, 2023, 10:07 AM
Jun 2023

This from the airnow.gov web site smoke map. Quebec is green. There are a few fires symbolized up to the N of LS, and it looks like the movement of the gray areas is N to S, different from the plume headed for Europe. Why is a major news org not getting this right, or I am the one misinterpreting?

John Ludi

(596 posts)
37. Did a driving gig for some friends with a farm
Thu Jun 29, 2023, 06:21 AM
Jun 2023

going into Madison yesterday...the AQI was 246, compared to 169 in Westby (around where I drove from). The haze was incredible, never saw anything like it. I wore one of my N95s pretty much all day, while staring in wonder at people out jogging, running and bicycling in it.

electric_blue68

(24,526 posts)
42. We had hazy air later yesterday the sun at like 5:30+ was already orange
Sat Jul 1, 2023, 02:33 AM
Jul 2023

Very red by before 7pm! Yet I didn't really smell smoke and my nose was clear.

Today air was like 220.

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