First day of school in Chicago comes on one of the hottest days of the year

Extreme heat across the Midwest coincided with the start of the school year for the second year in a row.

Transcript

00:00AccuWeather's Emmy Victor is live in Chicago with how teachers and students kept cool.

00:05So, Emmy, it certainly feels like midsummer out there, even though it is the school season

00:10once again.

00:11Yes, Jeff, the first day of school is coming to a close in the Chicago area.

00:18The elementary school I'm standing right in front of releases students at 3 p.m. local

00:22time, so right now.

00:24And in typical fashion, it happens to be one of the hottest days of the year that coincides

00:29with one of the first days of school.

00:32It happened last year, it happened again this year in this area.

00:36I was here at Gett Elementary School earlier this morning when parents were dropping off

00:40their students, and I'll tell you, they were very prepared.

00:43These students came to school with water bottles and cooling packs prepared for this weather.

00:49The school district sent out a letter to parents over the weekend discussing the heat, and

00:53it said that all outdoor activities were either being moved or being canceled, and that parents

00:58should send their students to school with light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

01:02Now, I did speak with a few families this morning about how they prepared for their

01:05children for the heat.

01:06Take a listen.

01:07Well, hydration, definitely plenty of water, Gatorade.

01:14I just made sure she dressed appropriately.

01:21This is the second year in a row where it's been very hot on the first day of school in

01:25Chicago.

01:26It was 100 degrees, like I mentioned, by the time students were dismissed last year.

01:31But Chicago Public Schools, not the only school district really feeling the heat right now.

01:35School districts throughout the Midwest took several precautions today.

01:38Some closed altogether, while others had early dismissal.

01:42I don't think too many people were too mad about that, given how hot it certainly is

01:46right now here in the Midwest.

01:47Back to you.

01:48Stay cool out there, Emmy.

01:50We have a little bit more heat out there.

01:51We're forecasting, again, 97 degrees again tomorrow in Chicago.