Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Thick haze settled over northern Illinois on Thursday morning as dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota rolled into the area, and it might get worse tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

More Top Picks Surfboards

People walk near North LaSalle Street in Chicago's Loop as dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanket the area on July 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
People walk near North LaSalle Street in Chicago's Loop as dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanket the area on July 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
A woman and child ride a bike with masks on West North Avenue in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood as dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanket the area Thursday July 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
A woman and child ride a bike with masks on West North Avenue in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood as dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanket the area Thursday July 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
People cross North Michigan Avenue at East Randolph Street, July 16, 2026, in Chicago. The city was shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
People cross North Michigan Avenue at East Randolph Street on July 16, 2026, in Chicago. The city was shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
A protected person rides an electric scooter past the Shedd Aquarium in the Loop on July 16, 2026. Air quality in the city of Chicago was at unhealthy levels due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)
A protected person rides an electric scooter past the Shedd Aquarium in the Loop on July 16, 2026. Air quality in Chicago was at unhealthy levels due to smoke from wildfire in Canada and Minnesota. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)
The Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Millennium Park, rear, is shrouded in a haze caused by wildfires in Minnesota on July16, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)
The Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Millennium Park, rear, is shrouded in a haze caused by wildfires in Minnesota and Canada on July 16, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)
Haze from the Minnesota and Canada wildfires envelops the city on July 16, 2026, in Chicago. In the foreground is the Spirit of Progress statue. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)
Haze from the Minnesota and Canada wildfires envelops the city on July 16, 2026, in Chicago. In the foreground is the Spirit of Progress statue. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)
A person stands at the Washington/Wabash CTA station "L" platform in the Loop while dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanket the area on July 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
A person stands at the Washington/Wabash CTA station "L" platform in the Loop while dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanket the area on July 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
Haze alters the light of the setting sun over a tree line on the near West side of Chicago as wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota moves in the area, July 16, 2026. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)
Haze alters the light of the setting sun over a tree line on the near West side of Chicago as wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota moves in the area, July 16, 2026. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)
John Bridges and his son, John Jr., 6, wear face masks while visiting Cloud Gate on July 16, 2026, in Chicago. The city was shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
John Bridges and his son, John Jr., 6, wear face masks while visiting Cloud Gate on July 16, 2026, in Chicago. The city was shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
People wait to cross North LaSalle Street in Chicago's Loop as dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanket the area, July 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
People wait to cross North LaSalle Street in Chicago's Loop as dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanket the area, July 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
Randolph Street in the Loop is shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada, July 16, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
Randolph Street in the Loop is shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada, July 16, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
Masked pedestrians maneuver Chicago's Loop as dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanket the area, July 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
Masked pedestrians maneuver Chicago's Loop as dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanket the area, July 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
The skyline is obscured as people walk near the Shedd Aquarium in the Loop on July 16, 2026. Air quality in the city of Chicago was at unhealthy levels due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)
The skyline is obscured as people walk near the Shedd Aquarium in the Loop on July 16, 2026. Air quality in the city of Chicago was at unhealthy levels due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)
The D'Aquila family, visiting from Hamden, Connecticut, wear face masks while walking on North Michigan Avenue, July 16, 2026, in Chicago. The city was shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
The D'Aquila family, visiting from Hamden, Connecticut, wear face masks while walking on North Michigan Avenue, July 16, 2026, in Chicago. The city was shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
A man waiting for a bus holds a towel over his nose as others wear face masks on North Michigan Avenue on July 16, 2026, in Chicago. The city was shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
A man waiting for a bus holds a towel over his nose as others wear face masks on North Michigan Avenue on July 16, 2026, in Chicago. The city was shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
A CTA Purple Line train moves through the Loop on July 16, 2026, in Chicago. The city was shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
A CTA Purple Line train moves through the Loop on July 16, 2026, in Chicago. The city was shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
While passing by an image featuring a young Michael Jordan in Chicago's Greektown neighborhood, a person uses a mask to protect from wildfire smoke that has carried into the area from Canada and Minnesota, July 16, 2026. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)
While passing by an image featuring a young Michael Jordan in Chicago’s Greektown neighborhood, a person uses a mask to protect from wildfire smoke that has carried into the area from Canada and Minnesota, July 16, 2026. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)
People walk along Washington Street near Wells Street in Chicago as a haze caused by wildfires in Minnesota and Canada hangs over the city on July16, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)
People walk along Washington Street near Wells Street in Chicago as a haze caused by wildfires in Minnesota and Canada hangs over the city on July 16, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)
Vehicles drive along Interstate 290 as dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanket the area, July 16, 2026, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
Vehicles drive along Interstate 290 as dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanket the area, July 16, 2026, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
From left, Hunter Collins, of Atlanta, Josie Maier, of the South Loop, and Vince Ombao, of the South Loop, apply sunscreen before going into the lake at Promontory Point in Hyde Park on July 16, 2026. According to Swiss air quality company IQAir, as of 11 a.m. Chicago was the third-most-polluted major city in the world, behind Detroit and Minneapolis. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)
From left, Hunter Collins, of Atlanta, Josie Maier, of the South Loop, and Vince Ombao, of the South Loop, apply sunscreen before going into the lake at Promontory Point in Hyde Park on July 16, 2026. According to Swiss air quality company IQAir, as of 11 a.m. Chicago was the third-most-polluted major city in the world, behind Detroit and Minneapolis. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)
Haze caused by wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota hangs over the West Side of Chicago and obscures visibility on July 16, 2026, in the Austin neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)
Haze caused by wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota hangs over the West Side of Chicago and obscures visibility on July 16, 2026, in the Austin neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)
875 N. Michigan, formerly known as the John Hancock Center, is shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada, July 16, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
875 N. Michigan, formerly known as the John Hancock Center, is shrouded in wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada, July 16, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
Bikers ride along the lakeshore near 31st Street Beach during a haze-filled morning from the Canadian wildfires in Chicago on July 16, 2026. (Peter Tsai/baiduhai)
Bikers ride along the lakeshore near 31st Street Beach during a haze-filled morning from the Canadian wildfires in Chicago on July 16, 2026. (Peter Tsai/baiduhai)
A view of the skyline along Interstate 290 as a thick haze from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota settles over Chicago the morning of July 16, 2026. (Peter Tsai/baiduhai)
A view of the skyline along Interstate 290 as a thick haze from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota settles over Chicago the morning of July 16, 2026. (Peter Tsai/baiduhai)
A view of the sun though the morning haze and clouds as wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota rolls into the area on July 16, 2026, in Chicago. (Peter Tsai/baiduhai)
A view of the sun through the morning haze and clouds as wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota rolls into the area on July 16, 2026, in Chicago. (Peter Tsai/baiduhai)
A CTA "L" Green Line train runs through the haze in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side as wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota settles in the area on July 16, 2026. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)
A CTA “L” Green Line train runs through the haze in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side as wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota settles in the area Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)
Haze from the Minnesota and Canada wildfires make the Chicago skyline invisible from about three miles north on the Kennedy Expressway, July 16, 2026. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)
Haze from the Minnesota and Canada wildfires makes the Chicago skyline invisible from about 3 miles north on the Kennedy Expressway on July 16, 2026. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)
Plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire hang in the air on Moose Lake as multiple wildfires burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness prompted its closure and evacuation on July 14, 2026, in Ely, Minnesota. (Anthony Soufflé/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire hang in the air on Moose Lake as multiple wildfires burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness prompted its closure and evacuation on July 14, 2026, in Ely, Minnesota. (Anthony Soufflé/The Minnesota Star Tribune)