The National Weather Service says the smell is actually coming from fires in Kansas, about 600 miles away.
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The smell is being transported by the strong winds from the south and southwest that have been moving across the Midwest Wednesday and Thursday.
SEE ALSO: Weather Chicago: High Wind Warning issued as damaging gusts hit area
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The high winds prompted an advisory for much of the Chicago area Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with gusts as strong as 60 miles-per-hour and thousands of power outages.