Chicago breaks heat record Wednesday

Chicago in extreme heat Photo credit Getty Images

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago officially set its hottest-day record for June 15 on Wednesday as the mercury rose to at least 96 degrees at O’Hare Airport, but in a way it was a moot point: The heat index pushed the “feel” of the temperature to well above 100.

The National Weather Service confirmed late this afternoon that the temperature at O’Hare —where temperature records for the city are measured — had hit at least 96 degrees. The previous record was 95 degrees, from June 15, 1994.

The Chicago region was in the middle of a dangerous two-day heat wave that was expected to begin dissipating Thursday. Friday will feel downright cool, with temps in the low- to mid-80s.

On Tuesday, temperatures at Midway Airport reached 100 degrees for the first time since 2012. At O’Hare, the temperature climbed to 96 degrees, which was a few degrees shy of the June 14 record high of 99 degrees set in 1987.

Chicago has opened six cooling centers, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, Monday through Friday (except for the Garfield Center, which is open 24 hours):
• Englewood Center, 1140 W. 79th St.
• Garfield Center, 10 S. Kedzie Ave.
• King Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
• North Area Center, 845 W. Wilson Ave.
• South Chicago Center, 8650 S. Commercial Ave.
• Trina Davila Center, 4312 W. North Ave.

Residents can also find relief in one of the city’s more than 75 Chicago Public Library locations and more than 250 Chicago Park District fieldhouses as well as 176 splash pads.

Lakefront beaches are also open.

Contributing: Sun-Times Media Wire