Air conditioners will be humming Friday as some of the year's hottest temperatures and
a fresh surge of muggy Gulf air bear down on the Chicago area. A thermometer high of
91 degrees would equal this year's highest reading to date while a 93-degree high
would qualify as the Chicago area's hottest since a 94-degree reading on July 9 last
summer. The elevated temperatures originate from a vast reservoir of hot air which has
broiled the West in record-breaking triple-digit heat for days. Among Wednesday's
records in California was the 113-degree high at Redding, 110 degrees at Ukiah, 108
degrees at Sacramento and 107 degrees at Stockton. The addition of moisture as the
heat reaches Chicago threatens to push heat index readings into the 95-100-degree
range. Hurricane Bertha strengthened far at sea in the Atlantic on Wednesday and
threatens to attain Category 3 winds Thursday.
62% OF CHICAGO'S HOTTEST DAYS TYPICALLY ARRIVE AFTER JULY 10
Despite the lack of heat thus far this summer, history suggests that 62 percent (15
days) of Chicago's 90-degree or warmer days occur beyond this date.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune
