Chicago, Illinois – Thirty years ago, a catastrophic heat wave swept across the Midwest, claiming more than 500 lives in Illinois alone and leaving an indelible mark on the region’s history. From July 12–16, 1995, cities like Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Detroit endured days of unrelenting heat and humidity, with some of the highest heat indices ever recorded.
According to the National Weather Service, July 13 was the most oppressive day, with Chicago’s temperatures soaring to 106°F and heat indices peaking at 124–125°F. Dew points climbed above 80°F, and nighttime lows offered little relief as many neighborhoods stayed above 80°F after sunset. Power outages left thousands without air conditioning, and the region’s major highways, including I-55 and I-90, saw pavement buckling under the extreme conditions.
Across the Midwest, emergency rooms and first responders faced overwhelming demand as vulnerable populations—including the elderly and those without access to cooling—succumbed to the heat. The vast majority of the 500+ deaths occurred in Cook County, but impacts were felt from Minneapolis to Indianapolis as the heat wave shattered daily records and overwhelmed city infrastructure…