Unhealthy air quality is expected to last through the weekend for the Chicago area, as northeasterly winds bring smoke in from Canadian wildfires.

National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Doom said the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is issuing an air pollution “action day” alert for Saturday as the smoke lingers throughout Chicago.

“The air quality is not necessarily worse, but it’s just not improving all that much either. It’s just remaining stagnant,” Doom said.

The agency issued an alert on Thursday, spanning Northern and Central Illinois and Northwest Indiana. That initial alert is in effect until midnight Friday.

Doom said southern winds coming through Illinois have helped clear conditions in the atmosphere, but the smoke remains close to the ground.

Much of the Chi

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