Chicago is bracing for a blast of extreme heat and powerful winds this weekend, as reported by the National Weather Service. The scorching heat wave is expected to send temperatures soaring near the 96-degree mark today, with the heat index making it feel like a sweltering 105 degrees. The combination of high temperatures and strong south-southwest winds, which could gust as high as 40 mph, has prompted warnings of an oppressive heat spell that could last into the early part of next week.
By tonight, the city will hardly cool down, with lows hovering around 80 degrees. This trend is set to continue into Sunday and Monday, with both days promising more fiercely hot weather. The forecast, obtained by NBC Chicago, indicates that the heat, partnered with sustained winds and gusts between 30 and 35 mph, may not relent until Tuesday. Humidity levels will remain pinned at uncomfortably high points, barely allowing temperatures to drop at night.
Residents in the area are facing more than just daytime discomfort. The urban heat island effect is expected to amplify temperatures overnight due to heat retention by concrete and asphalt, with minimal cooling provided by Lake Michigan's shores. While desert cities such as Phoenix or Las Vegas experience drops in temperature at night, Chicago's mix of persistent humidity and urban warmth will not yield the same reprieve from the heat.
As the workweek begins, Monday night brings a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, possibly providing some relief. However, relief may be brief as storms could develop after 1:00 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. Following the intense weekend heat, a drop in high temperatures is foreseen later Tuesday and through the rest of the week, accommodating chances of rain and thunderstorms, which might finally ease the high humidity levels Chicagoans will have endured.
