Hazy skies from fires are reminiscent of 2023 when Chicago was the second-most-polluted major city in the country.

Air quality continued to plummet across the Chicago metropolitan area on Thursday morning, June 5, as smoke from wildfires burning in Canada drifted south over the US Midwest, producing hazy conditions as the sun rose over the city.

The Chicago area is under an air quality alert Thursday due to the Canadian wildfire smoke. Environmental officials said the pollutants from the smoke will be sticking around the area through at least Thursday.