Chicago breaks heat record Wednesday, meteorologists say

Afternoon forecast for Chicagoland on June 15

Kaitlin Cody has your weather update!

CHICAGO - Chicago set a new heat record Wednesday as the area endured another day of sweltering temperatures, meteorologists say.

Temperatures at O’Hare Airport reached 96 degrees around 3 p.m., breaking the record high of 95 degrees for June 15 which was set in 1994, the National Weather Service said.

Earlier in the day, NWS meteorologist Brett Borchardt had said that there was "probably a good chance we actually break it."

High humidity is making the heat feel more oppressive, Borchardt added. The dew point in some areas is in the 70s.

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On Tuesday, temperatures at Midway Airport reached 100 degrees for the first time since 2012. At O’Hare Airport, temperatures climbed to 96 degrees by 2 p.m. Tuesday, falling a few degrees shy of the record high for June 14 of 99 degrees set in 1987. Official temperature records for the city are measured at O’Hare.

Chicago lays out plan to assist residents as extreme heat plagues city

The extreme heat prompted the National Weather Service to issue an "excessive heat warning" in northern Illinois that expires Wednesday evening.

But relief is in sight after back-to-back steamy days. While temperatures are expected to remain in the high 80s and low 90s Thursday, humidity levels should drop significantly, Borchardt said. The dew point should fall back to the 50s on Thursday.

"It’s going to be noticeably drier" Thursday, Borchardt said. A cool front will move in over the weekend before temperatures rise again Monday.

Chicago has opened six cooling centers, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, Monday through Friday (except for the Garfield Center, which is open 24 hours):

Englewood Center, 1140 W. 79th St.
Garfield Center, 10 S. Kedzie Ave.
King Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
North Area Center, 845 W. Wilson Ave.
South Chicago Center, 8650 S. Commercial Ave.
Trina Davila Center, 4312 W. North Ave.

Residents can also find relief in one of the city’s more than 75 Chicago Public Library locations and more than 250 Chicago Park District fieldhouses as well as 176 splash pads.

Lakefront beaches are also open.