Chicago weather: Excessive Heat Watch issued for Monday and Tuesday
CHICAGO - An Excessive Heat Watch was issued for a portion of the Chicago area from Monday afternoon through Tuesday night.
The area was also issued an Air Quality Alert over the weekend that is expected to expire Monday afternoon.
The National Weather Service said the city and surrounding suburbs should expect dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to around 105 degrees Monday and up to around 110 degrees possible Tuesday.
Several area counties were issued a Heat Advisory from Monday afternoon through the evening.
Extreme heat and humidity can significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, especially for those spending time outdoors.
Chicago's Office of Emergency Management Communications (OEMC) offered the following tips.
- Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates.
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Stay in an air-conditioned room
- Stay out of the sun
- Check up on relatives and neighbors
- NEVER leave young children and pets unattended in vehicles under any circumstances, for any length of time, when car interiors can reach lethaltemperatures in a matter of minutes.
- Call 3-1-1 to request well-being checks or for information on findingthe nearest cooling center.
Cook County Cooling Centers:
Cook County cooling centers will be open from Sunday, Aug. 25 through Wednesday, Aug. 28.
The county’s Skokie, Maywood and Markham Courthouses will be open 24 hours from noon on Sunday through Tuesday at 5 p.m.
The City of Chicago’s cooling areas located at the City's six community service centers operated by the Department of Family and Support Services will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Note: the Garfield Service Center at 10 South Kedzie from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for cooling and 24/7 for those needing shelter placement.
- Englewood Center – 1140 W. 79th Street
- Garfield Center – 10 S. Kedzie Ave.
- Martin Luther King Center – 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.
Cook County officials added that from Monday, Aug. 26 through Wednesday, Aug. 28, all six DFSS Senior Centers will be open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (Renaissance Court from 10 am to 5 pm).
- Central West Senior Regional Center – 2102 W. Ogden Ave.
- Northwest Copernicus Senior Center – 3160 N. Milwaukee Ave.
- Southeast Atlas Senior Center – 1767 E.79TH St.
- Northeast Levy Senior Center – 2019 W. Lawrence Ave.
- Downtown Renaissance Court – 78 E. Washington St.
- Southwest Regional Center – 6117 S. Kedzie
City Colleges of Chicago Cooling Locations
- Daley: Monday-Friday 8 am – 8 pm, Saturday 9 am - 3 pm, Closed Sunday
- Harold Washington: Monday-Friday 8 am - 8 pm - Saturday, 8 am - 4 pm, Closed Sunday
- Kennedy-King: Monday-Friday, 8 am - 8 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8 am - 4 pm
- Malcolm X: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Closed Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25
- Olive-Harvey: Monday-Friday 9 am - 8 pm, Saturday 9 am - 5 pm, Closed Sunday
- Truman: Monday – Friday 8 am – 9 pm, Saturday 8 am – 9 pm, Closed Sunday
- Wright: Monday- Friday 8 am – 7 pm, Saturday 8 am - 2 pm, Closed Sunday
The Garfield Community Service Center at 10 South Kedzie is open 24-7 to connect families and residents to emergency shelter.
City residents can also cool off at Chicago Public Library locations during their normal hours, as well as city pools and splash pads.
In addition, Chicago Park District facilities and Police Department District stations are available as cooling centers.
More Cook County cooling centers can be found here. A list of cooling centers in the City of Chicago can be found here.
(For additional information, visit 311.Chicago.gov or call 3-1-1.)