Chicagoans hit with a stifling heat wave that settled over the city Friday faced with more of the same Saturday — and it won’t get much better till the sun sets.
After a day in which temperatures peaked at 93 degrees and never fell below 81 — the “highest low” temperature ever recorded in Chicago for the date of July 19 — the National Weather Service advised residents to take the same precautions on Saturday.
Saturday’s temperature could top out at 94 degrees, forecasters said, with heat index values — which take humidity into account — making it feel more like 106.
The excessive heat warning issued by the weather service Friday is still in effect for the Chicago area until 7 p.m Saturday, about the same time that thunderstorms could start rolling in.
“There’s a cold front approaching, so the thunderstorms are associated with that,” NWS meteorologist Amy Seeley said. “Things will cool off after this.”
As thousands of concertgoers take to Union Park for the second day of Pitchfork Music Festival, Seeley said her advice is the same as it is any time an oppressive heat wave comes to town.
“Stay hydrated and get in the shade when you can,” she said.
At Pitchfork, three CTA “cooling buses” were lined up to provide festival attendees with some much needed air conditioning.
Elsewhere in the city, six cooling centers were spread out to provide respite to folks in need.
In Pilsen, hundreds turned out for the Tacos and Tamales street festival on 16th Street. While some embraced the heat, groups trying to stay out of the scorching sun gathered under overpasses while chowing down on food from a lineup of tents and trucks.
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The heat wave forced the cancelation of several outdoor events planned for Saturday, including the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll 5k at Grant Park and the morning workout on the Great Lawn at Millennium Park.
High temperatures are expected to hover in the upper 70s through mid-week.
