Heat indices could reach 110 degrees in the Chicago area, including Evanston, on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The city has opened four cooling centers where residents can cool off for free.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for northern Cook County on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Dangerously hot and humid conditions are expected to persist into Thursday, Sept. 3, according to a City of Evanston notice published by the Evanston Roundtable.
The four cooling centers and their hours:
- Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St.: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave.: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Prieto Community Center, 430 Asbury Ave.: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The city is urging residents to check on people at risk, especially elderly neighbors. For more information, residents can call or text 847-448-4311, or dial 311 within Evanston.
Actual air temperatures are forecast in the low to mid-90s, but high humidity is making conditions feel far worse. NWS meteorologist Zachary Yack told the Chicago Sun-Times a heat dome is keeping temperatures about 10 degrees above the normal average for early September. Chicago's typical high this time of year is around 80 degrees.
Dr. Ashish Sharma, climate and urban sustainability lead at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Discovery Partners Institute, called the event "somewhat unusual and a significant and potentially dangerous late-season event" in the Sun-Times report.
Cook County recorded its 13th heat-related death of 2026 in August, according to the Sun-Times. A WBEZ and Sun-Times analysis of medical examiner data found the county has had more heat deaths this year than any other in the last decade. Previous peaks were six deaths each in 2019 and 2022.
The city advises residents to stay hydrated, limit time outdoors, use air conditioning or fans and never leave people or pets in parked cars.
Cooler weather is expected by the weekend, with Fox 32 Chicago forecasting highs dropping into the mid-80s by Sunday, Sept. 6.
