It may be foggy outside but Chicagoans need not worry about air quality levels over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Air quality levels were considered “good”, as of 10 a.m. Friday but are expected to move into a moderate range over the weekend.
“We're not at the level we were a few weekends ago,” said NWS meteorologist Ricky Castro.
However, people with severe respiratory disease should be careful of higher levels, said Castro.
Earlier this week, air quality in parts of Minnesota reached “red” on the US government color-coded index, meaning unhealthy for everyone, as smoke continues to drift into the area. St Paul's has an air quality index reading 256 Wednesday – on an index that runs from zero to 500. The city has dropped to moderate levels.
The Wisconsin area also experienced reduced air quality levels but not the Chicago area, Castro said.
Some of the fog Friday morning in the city center may have been caused by low-hanging clouds, the sun being expected later in the day, Castro said.
The city will begin to warm over the next few days, after a week of unseasonably cold temperatures, according to Castro.
By next weekend's summer solstice “we have to start getting back to true summer-like temperatures,” Castro said.