Overview

• The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Watch from Wednesday morning through 10 p.m. Thursday for the Chicago metro area.
• Forecasts predict daytime highs in the upper 90s, accompanied by heat index values between 105°F and 115°F as dew points climb into the mid-70s.
• As of July 21, Chicago has logged 18 days with temperatures at or above 90°F, exceeding the annual average and outpacing nearly all summers on record at this point.
• NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center assigns a 40–50 percent probability of above-average temperatures for the remainder of summer.
• Meteorologists estimate that if the current pace continues, Chicago could see about 16 more 90°F days, potentially ranking summer 2025 among the hottest on record.