Hot Weekend Continues For Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago's wild weather continued Sunday, as the rising mercury sent people scrambling to do anything they can to stay cool.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports, as hot as it has been -- the high reached 93 at O'Hare on Sunday -- it hasn't been hot enough long enough to meet the National Weather Service or American Red Cross definition of a heat wave.
There seem to be no reports of heat incidents at Chicago's major hospitals.
Thus far, the major challenge for Chicagoans has been to stay cool and carry on.
On a hot, dry summer Sunday, one of the only places in Chicago where it was raining was the downpour of delight from Crown Fountain at Millennium Park.
Whether doing water angels on their backs, or crawling on their belly, hundreds of people took turns cooling off under the regular spray of water from the dual fountains.
Caitlyn Longway said, "It's really refreshing at first, but then it's really cold."
But the coolest place in town might have been Mario's Italian Lemonade stand. It's been a Taylor Street staple since 1945, scooping up flavored ice and fresh fruit for generations of parched Chicagoans.
Customer Katherine Williams said, "This is like the famous lemonade place. You come all the way from the South Side to come and get one."
Except Donald Meister came all the way from the North Side.
"When it's this hot, everybody wants to cool off; and with flavor," he said.
Over at the Printers Row Lit Fest, under a strong sun, the fan man was more popular than any author.
Jessica Herzfelt said "I'm so hot, I'm dying – fair-skinned redhead."
Umbrellas kept the sun away for some, while sun hats were pressed into use by others.
Thankfully, temps didn't come close to Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury, we miss you – but the heat caused bookworms to contemplate a crucial question.
Asked if sweat makes you smarter, Lit Fest patron Kristienne Hanna said "I don't feel so smart now, being out in the heat. … Even at a literary fest, it's still hot."
The city of Chicago hasn't opened its cooling centers, but if you need relief, you can go to the secondary cooling centers, such as public libraries and police stations.
City officials also advised residents to watch out for heat stroke, use sunscreen, and check up on their neighbors.
