Chicago Weather: Excessive Heat Warning in effect after damaging storms
CHICAGO (WLS) -- People across the Chicago area are looking to cool off on this sweltering summer day.
An Excessive Heat Warning for Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee, La Salle, Lee, Livingston, Ogle counties in Illinois is expected to expire at 7 p.m. Saturday.
A Heat Advisory for Kendall and Will counties in Illinois and Benton, Jasper and Newton counties in Indiana is expected to expire at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Heat index readings will range from 100-110 degrees and high temperatures will reach the upper 90s on Friday, the second day of Chicago's heat wave.
Brookfield Zoo Animals Cool off in the Heat
The Crown Fountain at Millennium Park is like an oasis in the middle of the city.
"She loves the water. She likes to be in any kind of water," said Jennifer Perthel, of her child. "It's summer, 90-something degrees, so we decided to come early to beat the crowd."
One garbage crew said they started collecting an hour early on Friday.
Carl Hanssen got his boat, "Variance," ready for the Chicago Yacht Club's race to Mackinac Island on Saturday. He hoped to get chores done before things really heat up Friday.
"Probably around lunchtime we'll go inside and get some air conditioning going. Excuse me, while I wipe sweat off my nose," Hanssen said, laughing.
Dr. Natalie Marks of Blum Animal Hospitals said dog owners should watch out for signs of heat stroke.
"Difficulty breathing, heavy panting, and sometimes even drooling or vomiting," said Marks.
If your pet is experiencing these symptoms, they should be wrapped in a cold towel and given room temperature water. Ice water can cause blood vessels to constrict, which is dangerous.
"We make sure we bring him his doggy water so we make sure he stays hydrated," said Johnny Correa with his dog at Lake Michigan. "I don't keep him out here for too long!"
It will be very humid Friday. There is also a chance for an isolated storm, but nothing like what the area saw Thursday night.
Watch the latest forecast from the First Alert Weather Team:
Panels from the side fell off a one-story building in the 3100-block of North Ashland Avenue on Chicago's North Side during the storm. The Chicago Fire Department helped clean up Friday morning and called the building department.
In Lombard, families trying to cool off spent the day at Paradise Bay Water Park.
"We actually went for a walk this morning, so just letting the kids dip in the water," said Cynthia Ebelma, while she watched her kids swim.
While many in the suburbs do their best to enjoy the summer heat, there are warnings that the combination of high heat and humidity can be dangerous, especially for the very young and the elderly.
At the York Township Senior Center, a cooling center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
With only fans in his condo, the cooling center is one of the only ways Jack Crippin can enjoy a hot meal with friends and stay cool.
"I'll come here because it's air conditioned, then go to Walmart because its air conditioned, and then go home," Crippin said.
In north suburban Niles, heavy rain fell on the Edens Expressway and high water pooled in many parking lots at Golf Mill Shopping Center Thursday night. Lightning struck a tree in front of a mansion in the 9300-block of Oak Park Avenue, igniting a gas line underneath. In the 5200-block of West Shubert Avenue in Chicago, a large branch fell on a parked minivan. No one was hurt.
Since it will be extremely hot again Friday, the city asked residents to check on their neighbors, stay hydrated and avoid spending too much time outside if possible.
Here are the best tips to stay safe during the hot summer months:
COOLING CENTERS OPEN ACROSS CHICAGO
There are places in Chicago where people can go to get some relief from the heat. Cooling centers are open across Cook County. The City of Chicago also operates six cooling centers during the summer months.
The Garfield Center, located at 10 S. Kedzie, is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week to connect residents to emergency shelter. Residents are advised to contact the cooling center they plan to visit ahead of time to make sure it is open.
The following cooling centers are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday:
CHICAGO
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
COOK COUNTY SUBURBS
Berwyn Library, 2700 S. Harlem, Berwyn;
Berwyn Police Department, 6401 W. 31st, Berwyn;
Bloom Township Village Building, 425 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights;
Bremen Township Community Cneter, 15350 S. Oak Park, Oak Forest;
Bremen Township Administrative Office, 16361 S. Kedzie Pkwy. Markham;
Calumet Township Community Center, 12633 Ashland, Calumet Park;
Cicero Village Building, 4949 W. Cermak, Cicero;
Cicero Police Office, 4901 W. Cermak, Cicero;
Cicero Public Safety Building, 5410 W. 34th St., Cicero;
Cicero Community Center, 2250 S. 49th Ave., Cicero;
Elk Grove Township, 2400 S. Arlington Hts., Arlingotn Heights;
Hanover Township, 240 S. Illinois Rt. 59, Bartlett;
Leyden Township, 2620 N. Mannheim, Franklin Park;
Lyons Township, 6404 W. Joliet Rd., Countryside;
Maine Township, 1700 Ballard Rd., Park Ridge;
Niles Township, 5255 Main St., Skokie;
Norwood Park, 7833 W. Lawrence, Norridge;
Oak Park, 130 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park;
Orland Township, 14807 Ravinia Ave., Orland Park;
Palatine Township, 721 S. Quentin Rd., Palatine;
Palos Township, 10802 S. Roberts Rd., Palos Hills;
Proviso Township, 4565 Harrison St., Hillside;
Riverside Township, 47 Riverside Rd., Riverside;
Stickney Township, 7745 S. Leamington, Burbank;
Barrington Public Safety Building, 400 N. Northwest Hwy., Barrington;
Barrington Train Station, 201 S. Spring St., Barrington;
Wheeling Township, 1616 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights; and
Worth Township, 11601 S. Pulaski Rd., Alsip.
