As Extreme Heat Bakes Chicago, Neighbors Brave The Conditions: ‘It’s Hot. It’s Miserable’

CHICAGO — Monday’s scorching temperatures and intense humidity led city officials to warn residents not to venture outside for too long. But that didn’t stop Chicagoans from going about their days — even while drenched in sweat.

A “heat dome” settled over the city Monday, causing the temperature to climb to 92 degrees at O’Hare International Airport around 4 p.m., with the heat index or “real feel” temperature closer to 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures are expected to climb through midweek, with Chicago expected to see heat indices peak around 105 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday. An extreme heat warning will be in effect in Chicago through 10 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service announced.

Mayor Brandon Johnson held a press conference Monday morning alongside the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications to advise Chicagoans on how to stay safe during this week’s extreme heat.

“Let’s do what Chicagoans do best,” the mayor said. “Let’s look out for one another. Please stay hydrated and if you can, stay inside with air conditioning on.”

Despite the mayor’s recommendations, the city still buzzed with activity amid the sweltering temperatures.

Logan Square-area postal worker Semaj Reid walked his usual route Monday morning, hugging the shade as his metal water bottle clanked about his cart.

“People need their mail, so, you know, we gotta do what we gotta do,” Reid said with a laugh. “We can’t just call off because it’s hot, but I’m used to it even if it’s kinda hard to deal with. Anytime it’s over 75 degrees, I have my water bottle with me, and I get all the electrolytes I need.

“Sometimes I find a hallway to stand in just to get out of the sun.”

Reid wasn’t the only Chicagoan pushing a cart while enduring the heat Monday. Olegario Rosas wiped the sweat off his brow before he ventured back out onto the Lakefront Trail with his ice cream cart to provide people a respite from the harsh conditions.

Unfortunately for Rosas, there isn’t much shade on the stretch of the lakefront where he works.

“It’s very, very hot,” he said. “I only get to cool down a bit, I try to take breaks as much as I can. But on a hot day like today, I can get customers. It’s hard work.”

Rachel Addison dropped down to take a rest on a concrete step along the lakefront near Fullerton Avenue after finishing an afternoon run from her Downtown apartment. Addison hasn’t skipped a day of running since moving to Chicago from Missouri for the summer and wasn’t going to let the extreme weather put a wrinkle in her routine.

“I might just call an Uber home,” she said, catching her breath. “I wanted to wake up early but I slept in, so I decided, ‘Screw it, I guess I’m just gonna run during the hottest part of the day.’ When I get home, I’m just gonna lay on my floor because my air conditioning isn’t the best.”

Addison ran past hundreds of beachgoers, including Lysander Soto, who recently moved to Chicago from Miami.

“I’m pretty used to the summer heat,” he said. “I just head straight for the beach and jump in the water. The best thing to do is just submerge, let the water take over, and come back out. Now I’m not as hot, and I got all the sweat off of me.”

Cherisse Davis stood with an electronic fan around her neck as she waited for the bus on South Halsted Street in the Back of the Yards.

“It’s draining, it’s hot, it’s miserable,” Davis said. “I’m just gonna try to stay in the house and drink plenty of water. I don’t think I’m gonna be doing any barbecuing.”

The oppressive heat is expected to stick around through Wednesday night, and nighttime won’t bring much relief due to the “urban heat island” effect that sees concrete-heavy cities trap heat in its surfaces, which is released at night.

Thursday and Friday could still see temperatures in the 90s, but the possibility of storms starting Thursday night could break the heat streak.

Here is more about what to know and how to stay safe during heat waves.

Heat Illness Symptoms

People should remain in air-conditioned facilities and watch for signs of heat-related illness, including heat stroke and exhaustion, officials warned.

Symptoms of heat stroke include confusion; slurred speech; loss of consciousness; hot, dry skin or profuse sweating; seizures; and a very high body temperature, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, decreased urination and a higher than normal body temperature, according to the CDC.

Cooling Centers

The city operates several cooling centers for those seeking refuge from the heat:

• Community service center ocations open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday: Auburn Gresham Center, 1140 W. 79th Street; Garfield Center, 10 S. Kedzie Ave.; Dr. 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.
• 21 Senior Centers will be open across the city 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
• Park District, Police Stations, Public Library branches and City College buildings will remain open to the public for their regular hours of operation

A disproportionate number of residents on the South, West and Far North sides lack proper access to air conditioning, with nearly 8 percent of households lacking air conditioning in some neighborhoods, according to a study from the Civic Data Atlas.

Beaches, Pools

All Park District beaches will be open during the heat wave; the Park District’s outdoor pools and splash pads are also open.

Resources For Homeless Residents

Anyone needing shelter during the heat wave can contact 311 to request shelter placements. Other services include:

• The Shelter Placement and Resource Center, 2241 S. Halsted St., can help with shelter placement but is not considered a cooling center or a shelter
• The Salvation Army Emergency Assessment and Resource Center, 924 N. Christiana Ave., helps families find shelter placement and other resources

Pet Safety

Chicago’s Animal Care and Control department is advising residents to keep their pets inside as much as possible and away from asphalt and concrete. Monday’s conditions can drive asphalt temperatures over 150 degrees, the agency warned in an Instagram post.