Pleasant temperatures, mostly cloudy skies ahead of possible evening rain NBC Chicago [Video]

After a smoky finish to the week that saw air quality alerts impacting the Chicago area, a more pleasant start to the weekend is in store, with seasonal temperatures and cleaner air for much of the region.

Air quality alerts have expired for almost all of the Chicago area, though Northwest Indiana remains under an air quality action day.

In Northwest Indiana, conditions will remain unhealthy for sensitive groups as smoke from Canadian wildfires persists in the region.

The air quality action day in Northwest Indiana remains in effect through midnight this evening.

As for temperatures in the Chicago area, conditions are pleasant to start the day with readings in the low-to-mid 60s, with temperatures expected to rise into the late afternoon.

Highs are likely to reach the mid-to-upper 70s throughout most of the region, though cooler temperatures are expected near Lake Michigan.

While much of the region is seeing …