The late-summer heat wave that has gripped Chicago hit a record Tuesday, with a 99-degree temperature recorded at O’Hare Airport, breaking a previous record that stood for more than half a century.
The temperature around 3 p.m. reached 99 degrees at O’Hare, surpassing the previous record for Aug. 27 of 97 degrees, set in 1973.
With heat and humidity, it could feel somewhere between 105 to 115 degrees outside, the weather service said.
The hottest day of the heat wave is expected today with heat indices climbing to 105 to 110 degrees. An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for all of northern IL, while a heat advisory is in effect for for much of northwestern Indiana. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/E6C0T8He01
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) August 27, 2024
Last August, temperatures at O’Hare reached 100 degrees for the first time since 2012.
Chicagoans grapple with oppressive heat
Chicago Public Schools officials confirmed there were cooling problems at 45 schools and “all are being addressed or were addressed with supplemental portable cooling.”
In some cases, classes were moved to gyms or other rooms where students had lessons and were given bottles of cold water. Athletic games and practices, gym classes and recess are slated to return outdoors Wednesday after cancellations Monday and Tuesday, CPS said.
Scorching days that should have been quite lucrative for Market Square in the Lincoln Square neighborhood turned catastrophic for the frozen yogurt and deli business. The shop’s air conditioning went out Saturday morning and wasn’t fixed until Monday, owner Ed Duman said.
“Those revenues on those hot days are so important,” Duman said. “They support us on days when it’s not that hot.”
Duman had replaced the whole system earlier this summer, and the breakdown sparked a cascade of issues that Duman and his employees were still grappling with.
All weekend, customers walked in the door and left before ordering because it was too hot inside. The frozen yogurt machines, which are self-serve and located in the dining area, emit so much heat that it became hotter inside than outside, Duman said.
The machines also struggled to keep up in the oppressive temperatures, failing to properly freeze the yogurt. leaving a sloppy mess instead of a perfectly crafted swirl.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Duman plans to get his frozen yogurt machines checked out Wednesday, and the store will have to close for half a day, leading to more business lost.
Duman said he’s out quite a bit of money, though it was hard to estimate how much. He’s owned the business since 2019, and he’s still working to bounce back from pandemic shutdowns that began less than six months after he bought the place.
“These kinds of things don’t help the situation, these breakdowns and energy issues.” he said. “We just keep going. We cannot cut our losses.”
A storm system moved into the area late Tuesday night, bringing rain, winds and temperatures dipping to 75. Areas of northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana were under a thunderstorm warning for several hours. Wednesday’s high temperature was expected to be 85, with morning lows in the 70s, with scattered showers throughout the day.
Some residents who sought relief from the heat by taking a dip in Lake Michigan on Tuesday noticed an unusual phenomenon. At Foster Beach, it appeared the shoreline had retreated by several feet. The effect is known as a seiche, which is a standing wave in a body of water, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Just now in under 5 minutes the surf line at Foster Beach retreated 20 feet. Never seen that before. Can any of you proto @Skilling types explain? pic.twitter.com/JprQ8Kygzw
— Chicago Bars (@chicagobars) August 27, 2024
In this case, a storm system in the north end of the lake shifted water northward, meteorologists said.
[10AM Tue Aug 27th] - Thunderstorms remain possible across the area from late this afternoon into tonight. Some storms may be strong to severe with damaging winds and hail being the primary hazards. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/eGvEgRGpmv
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) August 27, 2024
Air Quality
Along with high heat, ozone pollution levels are expected to be “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
Ozone pollution is caused when emissions from cars, trucks, factories and other sources interact with sunlight. That causes chemicals to cook in the air and create a dangerous type of pollution that is most common in summer.
Those with chronic respiratory illnesses should limit outdoor activity, and all people should take precautions when outside — drink fluids, wear light clothing and know the signs of heat exhaustion.
An individual runs along the Riverwalk in the Loop on Tuesday as temperatures in Chicago neared 100 degrees. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
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Pedestrians walk along the Riverwalk in the Loop on Tuesday as temperatures in Chicago neared 100 degrees. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
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A person kayaks in the Chicago River on Tuesday as temperatures in Chicago neared 100 degrees. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
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People cross the street at North LaSalle Street and East Wacker Drive in the Loop on Tuesday as temperatures across Chicago neared 100 degrees. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
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People kayak in the Chicago River on Tuesday as temperatures in Chicago neared 100 degrees. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
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A boat passes by as people kayak in the Chicago River on Tuesday as temperatures in Chicago neared 100 degrees. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
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The Nicholas J. Melas Centennial Fountain sprays water over the Chicago River on Tuesday as temperatures in Chicago neared 100 degrees. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
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Boaters drive on the Chicago River on Tuesday as temperatures in Chicago neared 100 degrees. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
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Heat-related illness
Those going outside should be aware of the signs of heat-related illnesses ranging from heat exhaustion to heat stroke, which can be very severe and even deadly in some cases.
Symptoms of heat-related illnesses can include skin flushing and sweating, headaches, confusion and even hallucinations, according to Dr. Elizabeth Van Opstal at Rush University System for Health.
If someone is experiencing milder symptoms it might be time to take a break, get out of the sun and drink water, Van Opstal said.
“If you see more severe symptoms, if somebody is not acting themselves, if they are acting confused, if they instead of looking sweaty, actually look more dry, those would be things that could be warning signs that they should seek medical help,” Van Opstal said.
People should do their best to avoid unnecessary risks, especially when it comes to children or the elderly, who are always most vulnerable, Van Opstal said.
“If there are things that you can postpone a little bit, it’s probably better.”
Contributing: Nader Issa, Emmanuel Camarillo
