Heat Wave Forecast in Chicago for Back to School

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

August 21,2013; 9:08PM,EDT

 

 

After a push of cooler, less humid air to end the week, more late-summer heat and high humidity will return to Chicagoland next week, just in time for the start of the new school year in many areas.
Don't put away the bathing suits and air conditioners just yet.
While autumn weather is still expected to arrive early this year, the atmosphere will attempt to make up for cool weather during recent weeks with a late-season heat wave during the last week of August into the first few days of September. Summer 2013 does not officially end until Sept. 22.

The outlook for next week projects multiple days with high temperatures around 90 degrees. However, when factoring in sunshine, humidity and light winds, RealFeel® temperatures are likely to surge into the upper 90s to near 100 degrees for a couple of hours each afternoon.
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For Chicago and many areas in the Midwest, the pattern next week will be the warmest weather since the heat wave during the middle of July, when temperatures climbed into the middle 90s.
Public schools in Chicago are scheduled to begin classes on Aug. 26. The worst of the heat may be toward the latter half of the week.
At least many families will be able to enjoy the warmth over the Labor Day weekend with high temperatures at or above 90 degrees projected through Monday.
Most days through Labor Day are likely to be free of rain. The exceptions are late Wednesday night into Thursday, when a cool front drops in with showers and locally gusty thunderstorms. Another round of storms may visit Tuesday of next week.