Chicago Weather: City Officials Preparing For Dangerous Heat Wave Starting Tomorrow
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago is preparing for what could be a dangerous few days from Thursday through Saturday, with extreme heat moving in.
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch starting at noon Thursday, lasting through 7 p.m. Saturday. Temperatures could reach near 100 degrees on Friday and Saturday, and the heat index could soar past 110.
City officials are warning people to be prepared for the weather, urging residents to check on their neighbors, and to use one of the city's cooling centers if they don't have air conditioning.
The Department of Family & Support Services operates cooling centers at six community service centers on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
Englewood Center
1140 W. 79th Street
Chicago, IL 60621
Garfield Center
10 S. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60612
King Center
4314 S. Cottage Grove
Chicago, IL 60653
North Area Center
845 W. Wilson Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
South Chicago Center
8650 S. Commercial Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
Trina Davila Center
4312 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60639
The city might open those centers on the weekend if necessary. Public libraries, Chicago Park District field houses, and police stations also can serve as cooling centers when needed.
The city's 21 senior centers also double as cooling centers for seniors during regular operating hours.
People also can call 311 to request a well-being check if they are worried about a neighbor or loved one, or to register for the city's extreme weather notification system.
Meantime, ComEd is adding more staff and preparing equipment for the extreme heat, in case of power outages.
Metra said the extreme heat also likely will require them to slow down trains at times. Whenever the temperature rises above 95, Metra reduces train speeds by 10 mph to reduce stress on tracks.
