Suburbs under heat advisory
Officials warn that temperatures could reach 100 degrees today with brutal humidity thanks to a heavy thunderstorm that blew through overnight.
Meteorologists are warning people to try and remain cool in the face of sweltering heat and humidity by staying inside or going to cooling centers for those without air-conditioning.
Forecasts for today show high temperatures that could top 100 degrees in suburban counties. Worse, the hot temperatures will be accompanied by oppressive humidity which prompted the National Weather Service to issue an excessive heat warning through late Thursday night.
The excessive heat warning will expire at 4 a.m. Friday morning, officials from the National Weather Service said.
The heat index could make temperatures feel like its 110 degrees Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Aside from staying out of the heat, people are urged to stay hydrated, check on elderly neighbors, and wear loose fitting clothing, especially if people must be outside.
The early-morning thunderstorm that moved through the area cut power to 3,600 ComEd customers, officials said, adding that 1,700 people remained without power at 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Most of the outages were reported in the northern suburbs as well as Chicago, officials said.