Chicago Temperatures Will Reach Nearly 100 Degrees This Weekend (Plus Humidity), But The Suburbs Will Be Hotter

DOWNTOWN — You might want to stay in the city when dangerously warm temperatures hit this weekend.

The Chicago area could feel as hot at 115 degrees over the weekend — but the city is expected to feel slightly cooler than the suburbs and rural areas of northern Illinois, said Ricky Castro, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

Chicago will still probably feel warmer than 105 degrees, though, Castro said.

“The city will certainly [be] hot no matter what,” Castro said.

High temperatures are expected to hit between 95 and 97 degrees on Friday and Saturday, and the humidity will be so high that it’ll be “very uncomfortable,” Castro said.

What does “very uncomfortable” feel like? “That’s basically what it’s like in the summer every day in Florida, that’s kind of like a good reference for that,” Castro said.

Sunday will be cooler with a high temperature of about 90 degrees. The day could see scattered thunderstorms and more clouds.

The city could come close to breaking the high temperature records for Friday and Saturday. The record for June 29 is 97 degrees and the record is 99 degrees for June 30.

“It may end up just shy, but it can’t be ruled out,” Castro said.

The hot and humid weather is bad news for people with respiratory issues, Castro said, as it’s conducive to high particular matter “that can be hazardous.” He expects that an air quality alert will be issued for the city, though none has been sent out as of 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

And everyone should be wary of the heat and sun over the weekend. Chicagoans should drink “plenty of water” if they’re outside, avoid being in the sun for long periods and use sunscreen, Castro said. Never leave children or pets unattended in cars.

“I think the biggest message for the heat would be proper heat safety,” Castro said.

Castro advised people to look out for those who are vulnerable to the heat and respiratory issues, including the elderly and people with breathing problems.

The symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, a weak yet quick pulse, muscle cramps and nausea, according to the Mayo Clinic. People with heatstroke, “the most serious form of heat injury,” might have a high body temperature, be confused or irritable, have flushed skin and be nauseous or vomit, according to the Mayo Clinic.