The temperature soared to a blistering 102° at O’Hare, Midway and Northerly Island yesterday and according to Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling of WGN-TV, this marked only the second time in 142 years where a reading of 100+ has been recorded on Independence Day. Yesterday’s high tied the record for hottest July 4th, last reached over a century ago.

The current temperature at O’Hare is 102° and given the lack of clouds, very warm 850 temps and winds blowing out of the W, NW, it would appear highly possible that Chicago may tie their all-time record high today of 105° set on July 24, 1934. Following another night in the 80s tonight, Chicago will once again soar into the 100s on Friday afternoon with a high between 102-104°. Another impressive aspect to this rare heatwave is that the city has never put together 3 straight 100s since 1947.

The good news is that we will see a significant drop back to the 80s by Sunday or Monday as a cold front sweeps through producing storms and draws down cooler, more refreshing air out of Canada. This is evident already up in Minneapolis where a weak cold front pushed through last night and this meant the city wouldn’t reach 100° again today for the 2nd day in a row.

Even down across St Louis where today will likely reach that of yesterday (105°) and could go all the way to 107° on Friday, will fall into the 80s for highs by Sunday or Monday too.

As for the Eastern cities, the heat really gets going tomorrow as DC up through Baltimore and Philadelphia, 100s are likely, especially on Saturday when heights and 850 temps are supportive of 105° in DC, 102° in Philadelphia while New York may get close at around 99°. Both Newark and LaGuardia could top 100°.

Check out this graphic below and see how hot it gets in DC!