Currently in Chicago — August 9, 2023: Wonderful week ahead

Plus, Miami's Chief Heat Officer pushes for more urgent heat warnings.

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Tim McGill & Eric Holthaus
August 08, 2023

The weather, currently.

A few rumbles of thunder Wednesday.

Takeaways for Chicago’s weather:

1. Awesome August weather for Thursday

2. A mostly dry and warm weekend

3. Seasonably warm with no extreme heat

Some sun early Wednesday and then some scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms with highs hitting the lower 80s. Partly to mostly sunny for Thursday with highs hitting the lower 80s. Some sun early Friday then afternoon scattered showers and thunderstorms possible with highs climbing into the middle 80s. Plenty of weekend sunshine with highs in the upper 80s Saturday and middle 80s Sunday. Some rain possible Sunday night then a dry start to next week with partly to mostly sunny skies Monday and highs in the lower 8s.

What you need to know, currently.

Florida has been the epicenter of a major marine heat wave that has strengthened all summer. Tuesday was the peak of the heat in Miami so far,

An excessive heat warning is in effect for nearly all of South Florida, with parts of the region under that highest-level heat warning for the first time ever. Heat stress is reaching record levels, with the Miami metro area facing more than 100 hours of excessive heat index so far this summer, more than double the second-worst year, according to Miami-based meteorologist Brian McNoldy. On Tuesday, the Miami heat index peaked at 113°F (45°C) — the hottest reading in city history.

Miami is the only city in the world with a Chief Heat Officer, and has worked diligently to set local heat standards to give workers frequently exposed to outdoors protections from heat-related illness and injury even as similar rules are fought by the Florida Chamber of Commerce and state officials.

For daily updates on Miami weather and climate, subscribe to Currently’s Miami newsletter, led by meteorologist John Morales.

What you can do, currently.

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