“Dangerous” levels of heat and humidity were expected in the Chicago area on Monday, with highs of 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) and heat indices reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) in some areas.
As of 8 a.m. Monday, a heat advisory went into effect for DeKalb, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Northern Will and Kankakee counties.
“High temperatures and high humidity can cause heat-related illness,” the National Weather Service said in an alert. “Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, avoid the sun, and check on your family and neighbors.”
According to Roman, dew points are expected to be between 70 and 75 degrees on Monday. Those high humidity levels would translate into temperatures feeling like 100 to 110 degrees, with areas west and southeast of Chicago expected to see the highest heat indices.
“A very tropical air mass is in place today,” Roman said.
According to the NWS, the advisory was set to expire at 7 p.m. Monday.
In addition to the heat, the Chicago area was under an “increased” risk of severe weather Monday afternoon and evening, rated at level three out of five on the Storm Prediction Center’s severe weather scale.
According to Roman, the storms are expected to begin hitting the far western part of the state around 4 p.m. Around 6 p.m., the storms are expected to move into the western suburbs, with the Chicago area expected to be hit between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Later in the evening, thunderstorms are expected to move into northwest Indiana. They should dissipate around 1 or 2 a.m., Roman said.
According to a National Weather Service alert, Monday’s storms are primarily threatened by high winds of up to 75 mph (120 km/h). However, large hail and the risk of tornadoes are also possible, the alert said.
In addition, “torrential” rains could cause flash floods, the alert said.
The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications issued an advisory Monday encouraging residents to prepare for the heat, with several cooling centers open starting at 9 a.m.
Meanwhile, on Monday morning, many parts of the Chicago area were still reeling from the effects of the weekend’s storms, with thousands of ComEd residents still without power.
Fallen trees were also causing traffic problems Monday morning, NBC 5 traffic reporter Kye Martin said, with two fallen trees blocking lanes of DuSable Lake Shore Drive, and one fallen tree causing delays on the BNSF Metra line.
In Gage Park, NBC 5’s photographer captured nearly an entire block of downed trees.
The storm’s aftermath also caused the cancellation of 47 flights at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, according to flychicago.com.
The full forecast for the Chicago area this week can be found here.
