Mother Nature cranked up the heat on Chicago dads, delivering the city’s hottest Father’s Day since 1995, according to the National Weather Service.
The city recorded a high of 95 degrees and a maximum heat index of 103 degrees at Midway Airport on Sunday, the weather service said.
Indeed, an excessive heat warning remains in effect until 7 p.m. Monday, though the evening could see isolated thunderstorms and showers before 8 p.m.
Separately, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued an air quality alert through midnight Sunday for the Chicago metropolitan area, warning that high ozone or particulate levels can make it difficult for some people to breathe.
Over the next week, temperatures will cool to lows in the mid-60s, though a chance of thunderstorms every day threatens to ruin outdoor activities.
“We will very, very slowly tonight cool off into the 80s,” meteorologist Ben Deubelbeiss said.
“It’s not going to offer a lot of relief from the heat for folks in the downtown area,” he said.
That’s because of the “urban heat island effect,” which makes the city hotter than its surrounding suburbs. It happens because the city’s concrete and pavement trap and retain heat across the dense area.
During the excessive heat warning, older adults and people with heart illnesses in particular should be aware of the signs of heat stroke or exhaustion, which include headache, nausea and muscle cramps. Chicago residents can call 311 to request well-being checks for elderly friends or family members, or for information on the closest cooling center.
For updates on the forecast, check the Tribune’s weather page.
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