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Last Week's Heat Wave Second Warmest In Chicago History

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Last week's heatwave, during which Chicago experienced high temperatures over 100 degrees for three consecutive days, was the second warmest three-day period in Chicago history, with an average temperature of 91.4 degrees.

The warmest three-day stretch was 91.7 from July 28-30, 1916, according to the National Weather Service.

Last week's heatwave even surpassed the three-day average temperature of 90.2 degrees, set during the deadly heat wave of July 1995, when over 700 people died. That was the fourth hottest ever.

Only two other times in Chicago history have temperatures reached 100 degrees on three straight days – August 4-6, 1947, and July 3-5, 1911.

The latter, 1911, ties for fourth hottest stretch ever with 1995, while the 1947 three-day average came in at 87. The third warmest three-day period was part of the 1916 heat wave.

July 6, 2012, tied with July 13, 1995, as the second warmest average daily temperature for a single day. July 6, 2012, had a high of 103 and a low of 82 for an average of 92.5. July 13, 1995 had a high of 104, a low of 81, and an average of 92.5.

The warmest day in Chicago history was July 30, 1916. The high was 102 and the low was 84, yielding an average of 93.

RELATED: List of 100 degree days in Chicago

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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