Chicago Weather: 95° Heat Index Could Strain Weekend Games Across Northern Illinois
Field heat index values near 95 to 100 Saturday across northern Illinois will move practices earlier this weekend. Here is the timing families and coaches need to plan around.
Chicago, IL — Families across northern Illinois, eastern Iowa, and southern Wisconsin could face field heat index values near 95 to 100 by Saturday afternoon, pressing coaches and parents to move practices earlier or add hydration breaks before weekend games.
According to the National Weather Service Chicago forecast office, afternoon temperatures will climb into the low-to-mid 90s Friday through Sunday across the metro and reaches the upper 80s as far north as Milwaukee. Heat index values will run 8 to 12 degrees above normal for mid-July, with higher readings on artificial turf — surface temperatures can run 15 to 20 degrees hotter than the air.
The worst timing is 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday across Cook, DuPage, Will, and Lake counties. Sky conditions stay mostly sunny with a 20% storm chance after 4 p.m.
Move football, soccer, and lacrosse activities to before 11 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Add a hydration break every 15 minutes once the heat index tops 90, and stock water and electrolytes at every field. Travel teams headed to Rockford or Naperville should plan for slower traffic and shaded sideline areas.
Conditions improve early next week. A cold front drops south Monday afternoon with a 40% storm chance between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., pulling temperatures back into the mid 80s by Tuesday.