March Heat Wave Could Break This Weekend

The Chicago area has seen nine straight days of record-breaking temperatures this month, according to this Chicago Sun-Times report. But the National Weather Service says we can expect things to cool off this weekend.

On Thursday, Chicago’s record-setting temperature was 81 degrees, blowing past the old record of 79 for March 22, set in 1938, according to the Sun-Times. And according to AccuWeather.com, the high temperature on Tuesday of 85 degrees not only shattered the old record 76, set in 1921, but soared past even normal July 4 temperatures.

AccuWeather meteorologists said temperatures have been at least 15 degrees above normal since March 10. The last time Chicago saw an 80-degree March day, the Sun-Times reports, was more than 20 years ago, on March 12, 1990.

It’s been an unprecedented hot spell, but it could be coming to an end.

The National Weather Service is predicting high temperatures of 69 degrees today in Montgomery, with rain showers in the mix, and that mercury reading will steadily drop through Monday. Saturday’s temperature is expected to reach 67 degrees, Sunday’s 65, and Monday’s 59, with partly cloudy skies all weekend.

In the meantime, stay cool and safe. If you need a place to keep cool, here are some in Montgomery:

• Montgomery Police Station, 10 Civic Center Avenue, open 24 hours a day.
• Montgomery Village Hall, 200 N. River Street, open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Oswegoland Park District’s Civic Center, 5 Ashlawn Avenue, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday though Thursday; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.