by Hank Brockett
7/21/01
Today and Sunday look to continue the type of heat and humidity that makes saunas look like a decent sanctuary. Ninety-degree temperatures and more than 50 percent humidity should keep all brows a little damp.
The near future, though, looks cooler.
The National Weather Service predicts some needed cool-offs in the form of showers tonight and 80 degree temperatures beginning on Tuesday.
Until then, though, the area will be under an excessive heat watch.
That means, with heat indices over 100 degrees, people should stay in air conditioning.
If going out, though, the National Weather Service recommends wearing light-colored clothes, drinking plenty of fluids and abstaining from alcohol.
"You don't want to be out in the full sun and not take any precautions," said meteorologist Christina Krause.
ComEd outlook
Despite the increase in electricity that comes with hot summer days, ComEd says it still finds itself in a good situation.
Massive upgrades in the systems the past two years have helped squash fears of brownouts every time the thermometer hits 90 degrees, said Jerry Ramult, community relations manager for ComEd's Joliet office.
"I feel much more prepared for a summer like this than in the past," said the 30-year veteran of ComEd.
That feeling comes even as some worry that not all ComEd's power generators are at full strength.
The 3-week-old strike at Midwest Generation, provider of about 40 percent of ComEd's power, doesn't worry Ramult, even if the weather bucks predictions and keeps at the 90-degree level.
"(Midwest Generation) does not feel that is a problem, we do not feel that is a problem," he said.
Going by the numbers, ComEd still looks to have a cushion as compared to its contracted power.
On Thursday, the whole northern Illinois ComEd area used 19,000 megawatts of power, while ComEd is contracted to use 25,000 megawatts.
Thursday's numbers serve as the general high for the summer thus far.
If temperatures and heat indices stay high -- and it's a possibility Ramult doesn't believe will occur next week -- ComEd will put extra crews out, maintain close contact with municipal officials, and open a command center for an overview of the entire system.
AC business
Elmer Lynn would be in the minority that crosses fingers in hopes of such recent heat.
The president of A.A.A. Comfort Heating and Air, 755 N. Broadway, said that before the past week, he was doing half the business compared to last year.
"When you get home at night, if you don't need air, we're screwed," Lynn said.
Cooler temperatures and stretches of rain have hampered his repairs and installations this summer, Lynn said.
But a string of hot days have heated up the phones.
"Any time we get 90 degrees for three days in a row, we get busy," he said.
And unfortunately for him, that means being out in the moneymaking weather.
"We've got to have it," he said. "Even though we have to work in it, we've got to have it."
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