According to the National Weather Service, heat will build to dangerous levels Thursday through Saturday ( July 18-20 ). Temperatures will reach into the high 90s on all three of those days and the heat indexthe combined effect of heat and humiditycould exceed 105 degrees. Even after the sun goes down, temperatures will remain in the high 70s.
Residents in need of relief from the heat may visit City facilities that are also serving as cooling centers including Chicago Public Library locations, Chicago Police Department stations, Chicago Park District field houses, DFSS Community Service Centers and DFSS Senior Centers, according to a note from 48th Ward Ald. Harry Osterman's office.
DFSS is also extending hours at the City's six cooling centers to operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. To locate a cooling center, residents can call 3-1-1. Garfield Center, located at 10 S. Kedzie Ave., will be open 24 hours to connect homeless residents to shelter. Locally, the Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway, is available as a cooling center as well.
For more information on cooling centers, visit www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fss/provdrs/serv/svcs/dfss_cooling_centers.html .