Illinois wildfire smoke forecast

The map shows NOAA HRRR-Smoke near-surface PM2.5 for the next 48 hours, updated hourly, with active fire perimeters from NIFC and live AQI from EPA AirNow monitors. It opens over Chicago. Search any town or use the buttons above.

Illinois smoke is almost entirely transported from Canadian and western fires. Broad northerly flow can blanket the state, pushing Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria into elevated AQI with no fire anywhere nearby.

Most of this smoke starts in Canada, so switch the map to the ECCC FireWork model, which resolves Canadian sources HRRR-Smoke can underplay. Compare the two with the layer toggle.

Near-surface is the product that maps to what you breathe and to AQI, not the high-altitude column that only tints the sunset.