Temperatures expected to soar Thursday to 100
BY STEFANO ESPOSITO Staff Reporter sesposito@suntimes.com June 27, 2012 7:46PM
Devaughn Clark, 11, goes head-first down the water slide at the Palmer Park pool on 111th and south Martin Luther King Dr. Wednesday June 27, 2012 | Rich Hein~Sun-Times
With the temperature expected to reach triple digits on Thursday, here’s a look at the hottest days on record in Chicago:
• 105 degrees — July 24, 1934
• 104 degrees — June 20, 1953; June 20, 1988; July, 13 1995
• 103 degrees — July 21, 1901; July 1, 1956; June 25, 1988
Source: National Weather Service
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Updated: July 29, 2012 5:13PM
It rarely gets hotter in the city than it’s expected to be Thursday.
With an anticipated high of 100 — the first triple-digit heat since 2005 — the city is telling residents how best to stay cool and safe.
“I want to state in the clearest terms that extreme heat and humidity are not just an inconvenience, they are dangerous and can be deadly,” said Dr. Julie Morita, Chicago Department of Public Health deputy commissioner, speaking Wednesday at the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Thursday, lasting from noon to 8 p.m.
City officials put an emphasis on staying cool and keeping an eye out for those particularly vulnerable to extreme heat: the elderly and the disabled.
“We ask that everyone be a good neighbor and check on the well being of their neighbors and relatives who may be susceptible to the weather conditions . . . ,” said Gary Schenkel, OEMC executive director.
Schenkel urged residents concerned about a vulnerable neighbor to call 311 for a well-being check or a ride to a city cooling center.
Morita suggested residents: Avoid being out in the heat during the hottest part of the day; drink lots of water; stay away from alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks; take an occasional cool bath or shower — or cool off with a wet cloth or sponge.
Mike Guerra, a spokesman for ComEd, said the utility agency is well prepared for the heat, with 300 additional crews available for “extended and overnight hours as needed.”
Because of the heat, Chicago Public Schools is canceling summer school Thursday at 10 schools that do not have air conditioning: Altgeld, Attucks, Bennett, Courtenay, Faraday, Gregory, Holden, Penn, Stevenson, and Washington (Harold). Classes are expected to resume Friday.
