About this episode

This episode discusses the impact of wildfire smoke on air quality in Chicago and the Great Lakes region.

A dense plume of wildfire smoke from Ontario and northern Minnesota is spreading across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes today, July 16, 2026. This episode examines Chicago’s dangerous air quality and reduced visibility, the cities experiencing the worst smoke, how far south the surface plume may travel, and whether smoke will lower afternoon temperatures. It also explains the difference between elevated and near-surface smoke and provides practical steps for reducing exposure. Conditions are based on information available around 9:20 AM CDT and may change quickly. Check current conditions: https://fire.airnow.gov/ Music: “Glass Beads” by Blue Dot Sessions, from The Balloonist. https://www.sessions.blue/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support . Weather with Enthusiasm is produced by Kol Simcha Productions. New episodes drop daily (B'N)— a morning forecast at 7 AM and historical deep dives Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact: kolsimchaproductions@outlook.com Historical content is thoroughly researched and factually verified. After it has been factually verified it often will say so in the description. Should you…

People in this episode

Host: Simcha Lefton

Topics covered

• wildfire smoke
• air quality
• Chicago
• Great Lakes
• weather conditions
• public health

Keywords

• wildfire smoke
• air quality
• Chicago
• Great Lakes
• weather
• public health
• exposure reduction

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kol Simcha Productions, Blue Dot Sessions

Books & works: Glass Beads

Places: Chicago, Ontario, Minnesota, Upper Midwest, Great Lakes

More episodes of Weather With Enthusiasm !

• Smoke on the Wind: Canadian Wildfires, Heat Dome and Global Extremes · July 17, 2026 · 45 min
• The Summer of Extremes: Camp Agudah Midwest Girls, 2026 · July 16, 2026 · 15 min
• Canadian Wildfire Smoke: A Comprehensive Forecast (July 15, 2026) · July 16, 2026 · 11 min
• The North American Heat Dome (Mid-July 2026) Explained · July 15, 2026 · 3 min
• Observed Extreme Heat Week Of July 12th 2026 · July 15, 2026 · 3 min
• Extreme Dew points are confirmed in Missouri and Canada · July 15, 2026 · 2 min

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