“Extreme” heat and humidity will bake Chicago this week.
The heat index is expected to hit 105 to 115 degrees in the metro area on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. And the setting sun won’t provide much relief — temperatures will likely remain above 90 degrees well into the night.
But don’t expect any temperature records to be broken, said Gino Izzi, a meteorologist with the weather service’s office in Romeoville
“It will be unpleasant, uncomfortable and maybe dangerous,” Izzi said. “But this is pretty normal for this time of the year.”
So far this season, two people have died, in part, from the heat, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Earlier this month, the city marked the 30th anniversary of a deadly heat wave that killed more than 700 people.
Thursday will also be hot and humid with the heat index — what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature — sitting above 100. But the potential for clouds, showers and thunderstorms might help keep temperatures lower than Wednesday, Izzi said.
The heat sticks around at night in the city because the concrete absorbs heat during the day and escapes at night after the sun sets, Izzi said. That makes temperatures hotter in the city at night compared to the suburbs, where there’s more green space.
“We call it the urban heat island,” Izzi said. “It’s not a terribly uncommon thing in Chicago.”
People should avoid strenuous activities, take breaks in a cool, air-conditioned space as much as possible and drink lots of water, Izzi said. He also recommends checking on elderly neighbors and relatives, especially if they live without air conditioning. Chicago residents can call 311 for a wellness check if they’re concerned about a loved one.
Children, pregnant people and anyone with a chronic illness are also vulnerable in the high heat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heat stroke symptoms include hot, dry skin or profuse sweating, confusion, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, seizures and a very high body temperature.
Conditions shouldn’t be as bad Friday, but the humidity will stick around and temperatures will likely be in the 80s, Izzi said.
Where to keep cool
Saint Sabina Church will be giving out cold bottled water Wednesday starting at noon at the corner of 79th Street and Racine Avenue, about a block south of the church.
The city’s cooling centers will be open Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hours at the Garfield Center have been extended to 8 p.m., according to the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
The centers are:
- Englewood Center, 1140 W. 79th St.
- Garfield Center, 10 S. Kedzie Ave.
- King Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove.
- North Area Center, 845 W. Wilson Ave.
- South Chicago Center, 8650 S. Commercial Ave.
- Trina Davila Center, 4312 W. North Ave.
City senior centers, libraries and park district fieldhouses are also available during their usual hours for folks trying to cool off. All cooling center locations can be found here.