Weather Alert: Dangerously Hot Temperatures Heading Wheaton's Way

Temperatures at or above 100 degrees are coming our way, and officials are gearing up with cooling stations and warnings.

The National Weather Service-Chicago has a Hazardous Weather Outlook in place throughout the week for the Wheaton area.

Temperatures are expected in the low to mid-90s Wednesday and from near 100 to the 105-degree range Thursday, the NWS says.

Afternoon highs in the 90s are expected to continue through the weekend.

There are some chances of thunderstorms, but the likelihood is that the continued dry spring and early summer conditions will continue.

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows our area as "abnormally dry." The far south tip of Illinois is facing "extreme drought" conditions.

Cooling centers are available for the elderly, families with small children, and other vulnerable residents and are open as follows:

Wheaton Police Department (Lobby) open 24 hours
900 W. Liberty
Non-Emergency number: (630) 260-2161

Wheaton Public Library
225 N. Cross St.
(630) 868-7520 (630) 668-0256 TDD
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: closed (until Labor Day)

The DuPage County Health Department is also offering its hot weather tips to ensure residents' time spent outdoors is safe and comfortable.

Here are some tips from the Health Department to stay cool:

• Always wear light-weight clothing that has plenty of ventilation - the fabric should "breathe." Stay well hydrated; always ensure you consume an abundance of liquids in the summer.
• Exercise or schedule other strenuous activities when the heat and humidity are lowest, usually early morning and late evenings.
• Rest in cool, shady places frequently. If you're hot, go cool down - get indoors, drink cool liquids, enjoy the air conditioning for a few minutes, or take a cold shower.
• Eat light, heart-healthy foods to replace minerals and nutrients that may be lost. Give your heart a little extra break during the summer months with a healthy diet.
• Watch out for those at greatest risk such as very young children, the elderly, persons who may have health conditions. Certain medications may put you at greater risk of heat-related illnesses so be aware of how medications may interact with the heat.

When spending any time outside during periods of extreme heat and humidity, residents should also be on the lookout for these potential risk factors:

Dehydration - Dehydration occurs when more water leaves the body that you put back in. Stay well hydrated throughout the day and drink extra fluids when exercising or simply being outdoors on hot days.

Heat exhaustion - Symptoms may include: headaches, weak pulse, rapid pulse, excessive sweating, dizziness, and in some instances fainting, clammy skin, chills, cold, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps or very fast or very shallow breathing. If you suspect you have heat exhaustion, take action immediately to cool down. If possible, immerse yourself in cool water.

Heat stroke - Unlike heat exhaustion, victims of heat stroke have warm skin that is dry to the touch because they've sweated out all their extra water leaving the body's natural cooling system without a key cool-down mechanism. High fever, severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, and a strong, rapid pulse all accompany heat stroke. Victims may become confused and can lose consciousness. Heat stroke is a very serious condition. Cool the victim and seek immediate medical assistance.