1995 Chicago heat wave facts for kids
The 1995 Chicago heat wave was a very serious weather event. It was a time when the weather in Chicago got extremely hot for several days. This heat wave sadly caused over 600 deaths in the city. Many of the people most affected were older or didn't have much money. They often couldn't afford air conditioning to stay cool. Some people also didn't open their windows or sleep outside because they worried about their safety. The very hot weather also reached other cities like Milwaukee and St. Louis.
The temperatures during this time were incredibly high, almost breaking records. The hottest days were from Wednesday, July 12, to Sunday, July 16. The highest temperature recorded was about 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit) at Chicago's Midway Airport. The heat index, which tells you how hot it feels when humidity is added, reached about 48 degrees Celsius (119 degrees Fahrenheit) at O'Hare Airport.
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Understanding the Hot Weather
A heat wave happens when temperatures stay much hotter than usual for several days. This can be dangerous because our bodies struggle to cool down. When it's very hot and humid, like it was in Chicago in 1995, the air feels even hotter than the thermometer shows. This is what the heat index measures.
How Hot Did It Get?
Here are the daily low and high temperatures in Chicago during the heat wave in 1995:
- July 11: 23 to 32 degrees Celsius (73 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit)
- July 12: 24 to 37 degrees Celsius (76 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit)
- July 13: 27 to 41 degrees Celsius (81 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit)
- July 14: 29 to 39 degrees Celsius (84 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit)
- July 15: 25 to 37 degrees Celsius (77 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit)
- July 16: 24 to 34 degrees Celsius (76 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit)
- July 17: 23 to 32 degrees Celsius (73 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit)
Staying Safe in Hot Weather
Heat waves can be very serious. It's important to know how to stay safe when it's super hot outside.
Tips for Staying Cool
- Drink lots of water: Make sure to drink plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty.
- Stay in cool places: Try to spend time in air-conditioned buildings like libraries, malls, or community centers.
- Wear light clothes: Choose loose, light-colored clothing.
- Take cool showers: A cool shower or bath can help lower your body temperature.
- Check on others: Make sure to check on older people or those who might need help staying cool.
Images for kids
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High pressure up traps heat near the ground, forming a heat wave
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Plotted observed temperatures from O'Hare International Airport. Red Lines are daily max temperatures, Blue Lines are daily minimum temperatures, and the Black Line is the July 1960–2016 mean temperature.
