‘It’s refreshing’: Chicagoans jump in Lake Michigan to deal with ‘miserable heat’

Raymond Melikian, 33, from Streeterville, and his dog Gunner take a dip in the lake at Montrose Dog Beach on Saturday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

On a typical mid-July day, Chicago’s lakefront would be bustling with thousands of people retreating to Lake Michigan to cool down — but that wasn’t the case Saturday, even as the city experienced one of its hottest and most humid days this summer.

With beaches still closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, geese outnumbered people at the deserted North Avenue and Montrose beaches. Lifeguards patrolled the lakefront, telling people to stay out of the water.

That didn’t stop some Chicagoans from taking a dip in Lake Michigan in an attempt to beat the “miserable heat.”

As of Saturday afternoon, the highest temperature recorded was 91 degrees at O’Hare Airport, with a heat index of 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. A thunderstorm rolling in from the west provided some much-needed cloud coverage to keep temperatures in check, according to meteorologist Ricky Castro.

“The temperatures aren’t going to be anything off the charts as we’ve seen. But it’s probably the most humid day we’ve had,” Castro said, comparing the sticky conditions to those of Miami.

A heat advisory was in effect through Saturday night, with heat index values potentially soaring up to 105 degrees.

That prompted several groups of people to take the plunge off the lakefront trail near Fullerton Avenue.

“It’s refreshing,” one person reassured their friends while swimming in the forbidden waters. “It feels good.”

Beachgoers watch over their dogs at Montrose Dog Beach in Uptown Saturday morning.

A trio of men from Logan Square took an Uber to the lakefront when they saw the temperatures were projected to top 90 degrees.

“It’s a beautiful day,” said 24-year-old Blake Cox, who was wrapped in a towel after getting out of the lake. “[The water] is perfect.”

Two Lincoln Park women sunbathing near the water debated if they should jump in.

“The lifeguards are right there,” said Kayla Menz.

Meanwhile, 60-year-old Naperville resident Marty Fielder was on a bike ride when he stopped near North Avenue Beach to cool off.

“It’s hot,” Fielder said as he dipped his feet in the water. “I was hoping there would be a few rebels going in the water at the beach, but no — there’s not one footprint in the sand.”

People exercise on the Montrose Lakefront Track in Uptown Saturday morning.

Fielder said he thinks beaches should “absolutely” be opened.

“It’s stupid,” he said. “If you’re ill with this corona, COVID-19, you’re not going to be at a beach. That’s what I think about it.”

But not everyone shared Fielder’s sentiment.

“It’s the right call right now to not have beaches open because people will congregate more densely at the beach as opposed to here, where there’s a little more space to spread out,” said Menz, 24.

Sunday is expected to stay warm, with temperatures most likely topping out in the upper 80s, Castro said, but a cold front could lower the humidity.