July 19, 2026 – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is warning residents to prepare for poor air quality on Monday, July 20, as wildfire smoke is expected to keep much of the state in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category.
The Illinois EPA has issued an Areawide Air Pollution Action Day covering every Illinois Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast sector except the Metro-East St. Louis region. The alert comes as smoke and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from distant wildfires continue moving across the state, with conditions expected to linger into Monday.
Health officials say air quality may fluctuate throughout the day, and some locations could briefly experience conditions worse than the daily forecast. Residents are encouraged to check real-time NowCast AQI readings before spending time outdoors, as local conditions may change quickly.
Those most at risk include people with asthma or other lung diseases, individuals with heart conditions, children, older adults and anyone who works or exercises outdoors.
During Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups conditions, sensitive individuals should reduce the length and intensity of outdoor activities, take frequent breaks and watch for symptoms such as coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plan and keep quick-relief medication readily available, while those with heart disease should seek medical attention if they experience chest pain, heart palpitations, unusual fatigue or difficulty breathing.
If air quality worsens to the Unhealthy category, everyone is encouraged to reduce prolonged outdoor activity, while sensitive groups should avoid strenuous outdoor exercise altogether.
Wildfire smoke can travel hundreds of miles, causing air quality problems far from the actual fires. Illinois residents are encouraged to monitor changing conditions throughout the day using AirNow’s NowCast AQI and fire and smoke maps, and to sign up for free EnviroFlash air quality alerts. Anyone experiencing worsening respiratory or cardiac symptoms should contact their healthcare provider or call 911 in an emergency.
