Extreme heat to persist Tuesday in Chicago area with heat index values near 100 degrees
CHICAGO (CBS) — A stretch of dangerously hot and humid conditions hit Chicago on Monday with temperatures reaching the upper 90s, and it's expected to be even hotter on Tuesday.
On Monday night, it will be mostly clear, very warm, and humid, with lows in the upper 70s.
Monday was also the first day of the new school year for the Chicago Public Schools-and outdoor sporting events were canceled due to the danger of the heat. CPS said it is too hot outside to play sports.
There will be no outdoor sporting events or practices on Tuesday either.
At Schurz High School, at 3601 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the Irving Park neighborhood, an infrared thermometer read back a temperature as hot as 146 degrees on the artificial turf on the sports field.
In Gary, Indiana, a broken air conditioning unit at Banneker at Marquette Elementary School sent kids home early, and classes will also be canceled Tuesday. The school district there also canceled middle school athletic events on Monday and Tuesday.
The hot weather did not keep pickleballers away from a court in Grant Park Monday. They took their shots under partial shade, thanks to some nearby trees.
But at the 31st Street Beach Monday, the quenching power of the lake notwithstanding, it was pretty empty.
Tuesday will be the hottest day of the year, with highs approaching 100 degrees. The very humid air will make it feel like 105 to 111 degrees.
A severe thunderstorm watch was issued until 4 a.m. Tuesday for most of central and northern Wisconsin, and the parts of Lake Michigan immediately to the east. No part of the Chicago area is affected by this severe thunderstorm watch—the southernmost affected county is Sheboygan County well north of Milwaukee.
But late Tuesday, there will be a storm risk in the Chicago area, with scattered storms forecast for the evening and parts of the overnight hours.
The storms Tuesday night may not come in until around 10 p.m., 11 p.m., or even midnight.
Because our atmosphere will be so hot and humid, any storms that pop up could quickly turn severe. The main concern will come from storms producing damaging winds and large hail.
Wednesday to Friday will be less hot, with highs in the 80s, but we will remain humid. Scattered storm chances linger through the end of the week.
Cooler tempers and drier air by this weekend, especially for Sunday. A string of below-average temperatures and dry air will kick off next Monday.
The heat forced Chicago Public Schools to cancel all outdoor sports events for Monday and Tuesday. Artificial turf fields like the one at Schuz High School in Irving Park were empty which was good because the fields can heat up to dangerous levels.
CBS News Chicago used an infrared thermometer to test the temperature of the turf. It topped out at 160 degrees.
Cooling Centers available in Chicago
There are 50 Chicago cooling centers offering relief from the dangerous heat. Some of the center locations below will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Englewood Center, 1140 W. 79th Street
- Garfield Center (open 24 hours), 10 S. Kedzie Ave.
- King Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove, 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.
Residents can also visit any Chicago Public Library or Park District Fieldhouse. A map of cooling centers is available here.