The oppressive heat that settled over Chicago this weekend is expected to stick around for at least another day, sending temperatures and heat indices soaring before brief respite arrives in the form of storms.
The Chicago area is under an extreme heat warning until very late Monday night. High temperatures during the day Monday are expected to climb near the record for June 23 of 97 degrees. Heat index values — a combination temps and humidity — could be as high as 101 degrees.
Sunday’s temperatures flirted with the record high of 97 degrees for June 22 but fell a few degrees short with a high of 94 degrees about 5 p.m at O’Hare Airport, meteorologists said. Overnight Sunday temps will hover near 80 degrees.
Stifling heat will continue Monday, though with lower humidity than Sunday and winds up to 35 mph are forecast.
Meteorologists and city officials are urging people to stay indoors in air-conditioned rooms when possible and to stay hydrated during the heat wave.
Nearly 11% of the city’s population doesn’t have access to air conditioning. The city’s cooling centers are scheduled to be open through the weekend and beyond. But some organizations believe that isn’t enough.
The heat wave continues. You may notice a touch less humidity tomorrow, but warmer air temperatures will compensate leading to a continuation of oppressive heat. Chances for storms return to the area as early as Monday evening but more likely from Tuesday onward. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/o0jo6LJwuy
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) June 22, 2025
Lonette Sims, chairperson of the volunteer-run People’s Response Network, said the city has taken a short-term approach to instances of extreme heat, saying officials have yet to act on more long-term proposals from advocates.
Sims said vulnerable communities face growing risks and rising costs. “People who do have air conditioning or do have a window unit can’t afford to turn it on,” she said. “We really have to start being creative and putting long-term investments toward heat-mitigation policies because this global warming phenomenon isn’t going anywhere.”
Anyone in the city can call 311 to request a welfare check or access city services like cooling centers. A city robocall system will also be doing outreach to seniors during the heatwave, in addition to Department of Family and Support Services teams checking in on homeless encampments to help people reach cooling centers.
A baby gets a dip in the lake as the weekend heatwave continues Sunday at Oak Street Beach. The city has opened cooling centers, and workers are reaching doing welfare checks on seniors and homeless Chicagoans. Residents are urged to stay indoors in air conditioned spaces and to stay hydrated.
Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times
Some relief may arrive after 10 p.m. Monday night as a system that brings a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms moves through the area. Temperatures are expected to dip to 74 degrees overnight, with wind gusts up to 20 mph.
Though the extreme heat warning is set to end by Tuesday morning temperatures will remain warm for the rest of the week. Highs Tuesday afternoon will climb to nearly 90 degrees, with heat indices around 96. But temps will dip to 70 degrees at night as another round of possible showers and thunderstorms rolls in.
High temperatures Wednesday through Saturday will hover near 90 with possible showers and thunderstorms, but lows at night are expected to dip to around 70.
The following cooling centers will be open:
- The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services will have six community service locations open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
- Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library, City Colleges of Chicago and Chicago Police Department locations will be open for cooling during regular hours of operation.
- The city’s 21 senior centers are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the center at 78 E. Washington St. is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The facilities will be activated as cooling centers Monday and Tuesday.