Chicago Area Prepares For Dangerous Triple-Digit Heat
June 28, 2012 6:14 AM
The sun rises on a day of extreme heat in Chicago. (Credit: CBS)
CHICAGO (CBS) — Officials are warning that conditions could be dangerous Thursday, as the heat ratchets up to a high of 100 degrees.
CBS 2 Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist reports the official forecast high is 100 degrees. But south of Interstate 80, the high could hit 105. But the heat index will make it feel like it is between 102 and 107, as humidity increases ahead of an approaching cool front.
A heat advisory is in effect for the entire Chicago area, including Northwest Indiana, from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday. The National Weather Service advises rescheduling strenuous activities to the early morning or late evening, wearing light and loose-fitting clothes, and drinking plenty of water.
Anyone spending any length of time outside is also advised to watch for the dangerous effects of heat.
“The first sign that you’re having bad side effects from the heat is that you will have heat cramps – painful muscle spasms in your legs or abdomen,” said Bridget Blair of the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago. The first thing you want to do is go to a cooler area, drink water. Drink it slowly – you don’t want to be chugging water. That’s not the best thing.”
But it can get far worse. Blair says if you are sweating profusely and your skin feels cold and clammy, you may be suffering from heat exhaustion.
At that point, the body can no longer cool itself effectively, and a call to 911 is warranted.
Untreated heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which is defined by a body temperature of more than 105.1 degrees. Someone suffering from heat stroke may suffer from dry skin, a rapid pulse, and dizziness.
The danger of hot cars is also emphasized, particularly for children and pets.
But city officials have emphasized that some popular ways of keeping cool, according to those who gathered at the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Wednesday, could endanger others.
Water Department First Deputy Commissioner Barrett Murphy said residents should not open fire hydrants to stay cool, in part because doing so reduces water pressure in the area, putting nearby homes and businesses at risk if there’s a fire.
It also creates potential danger for anyone who tries to cool off by standing in the spray of water from a fire hydrant.
“Open hydrants place everybody in the neighborhood at risk. By these children playing in the fire stream, they can’t be seen by passing cars, and you potentially are creating accidents that could put lives at risk,” Murphy said.
Meanwhile, the heat itself is not the only problem in Chicago this Thursday. The air conditions could make it hard for some people to breathe.
An air quality warning has been issued for the Chicago area Thursday, meaning certain groups might experience difficulty breathing due to high ozone levels. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has called an air pollution action day for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.
Those at risk include people with lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema; children; the elderly; and those who exercise or work vigorously outdoors.
But there is some relief in sight – albeit modest relief. Kleist says a light lake breeze will cause temperatures to drop slightly in areas far to the north, from Waukegan to Racine, Wis.
And late in the afternoon, there is a chance for a thunderstorm – rain at last – as a cool front pushes closer.
CBS 2 Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist reports the official forecast high is 100 degrees. But south of Interstate 80, the high could hit 105. But the heat index will make it feel like it is between 102 and 107, as humidity increases ahead of an approaching cool front.
A heat advisory is in effect for the entire Chicago area, including Northwest Indiana, from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday. The National Weather Service advises rescheduling strenuous activities to the early morning or late evening, wearing light and loose-fitting clothes, and drinking plenty of water.
Anyone spending any length of time outside is also advised to watch for the dangerous effects of heat.
“The first sign that you’re having bad side effects from the heat is that you will have heat cramps – painful muscle spasms in your legs or abdomen,” said Bridget Blair of the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago. The first thing you want to do is go to a cooler area, drink water. Drink it slowly – you don’t want to be chugging water. That’s not the best thing.”
But it can get far worse. Blair says if you are sweating profusely and your skin feels cold and clammy, you may be suffering from heat exhaustion.
At that point, the body can no longer cool itself effectively, and a call to 911 is warranted.
The danger of hot cars is also emphasized, particularly for children and pets.
But city officials have emphasized that some popular ways of keeping cool, according to those who gathered at the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Wednesday, could endanger others.
Water Department First Deputy Commissioner Barrett Murphy said residents should not open fire hydrants to stay cool, in part because doing so reduces water pressure in the area, putting nearby homes and businesses at risk if there’s a fire.
It also creates potential danger for anyone who tries to cool off by standing in the spray of water from a fire hydrant.
“Open hydrants place everybody in the neighborhood at risk. By these children playing in the fire stream, they can’t be seen by passing cars, and you potentially are creating accidents that could put lives at risk,” Murphy said.
Meanwhile, the heat itself is not the only problem in Chicago this Thursday. The air conditions could make it hard for some people to breathe.
An air quality warning has been issued for the Chicago area Thursday, meaning certain groups might experience difficulty breathing due to high ozone levels. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has called an air pollution action day for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.
Those at risk include people with lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema; children; the elderly; and those who exercise or work vigorously outdoors.
But there is some relief in sight – albeit modest relief. Kleist says a light lake breeze will cause temperatures to drop slightly in areas far to the north, from Waukegan to Racine, Wis.
And late in the afternoon, there is a chance for a thunderstorm – rain at last – as a cool front pushes closer.
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