Though it’s become hot in recent days, the area has certainly dealt with more debilitating heat in the past. Chicagoans were saddled with triple-digit heat indexes as the mercury soared to 97° a year ago. But, gentle lake breezes and fairly moderate humidity levels, including low and mid 60° dew points instead of Gulf Coast level 70°+ dew points, have spared the area the full impact of the heat up to this point. Make no mistake, working outdoors hasn’t been easy. But, truly humid air—like that expected to take hold later this weekend into next week—would already have pushed heat indexes to dangerous 100°+ levels.
Thursday marks the sixth consecutive day with high temps warmer than the day before. It’s also the 13th of the past 15 days to feature a lake breeze. Pollutants have been building. An Air Pollution Action Day has been declared Thursday. Ozone levels reached 102 parts per billion in some areas late Wednesday.
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
