Lollapalooza Weather: Hot Hot Heat
By Marcus Gilmer in Miscellaneous on Aug 6, 2009 7:00PM
We dodged a bullet this year when Pitchfork Music Fest - commonly known as "Sweatfork" - turned out to be, well, downright pleasant. We hoped, wished, and prayed that we'd be so lucky for this year's Lollapalooza. It looks we're wrong and in a big way. Instead, this weekend is promising the summer's hottest weather to date. Don't be surprised if the National Weather Service issues a Heat Index Advisory for Saturday and Sunday.
- Friday: The opening day looks to be the most pleasant in terms of temps, which should only reach around 80 degrees with clouds and a chance of thunderstorms as the day wears on. By the time the Kings of Leon and Depeche Mode take the stage, we could even be seeing a few downpours.
- Saturday: There's a slight chance of showers in the morning, but the clouds will break and the heat and humidity roll in. Highs will reach the lower 90s under sunny skies in the afternoon.
- Sunday: Even hotter and possibly the hottest day of 2009 yet. Highs will reach the upper 90s and heat indexes could surpass 105.
Okay, so it's going to be hot. But how can we prepare? We reached out to Friend of Chicagoist and FOX 32 Meteorologist Amy Freeze for advice. Here's what she told us:
Temperatures both days will be well into the 90s. But not just hot -- humid, too, which makes the heat feel more uncomfortable. With more humidity, it's more difficult for the body to cool itself down. Becasue we've only had a few 90s this summer (and those were several weeks ago in June) we are not used to the type of heat coming in this weekend! There are the obvious actions like drinking plenty of water (other liquids don't count) wear light colored, breathable fabrics, plenty of sunscreen, and use common sense! Take breaks in the shade [around the BMI, Kids, and Citi stages] when you can -- temperatures can be several degrees cooler in the shade!
So if you must drink beer, at least cycle in some water. Remember, Lollapalooza guidelines allow, "Two factory sealed water bottles up to 1 liter each" and "Empty Camelback or other empty plastic container (i.e., Nalgene bottle)" that you can fill with water on the grounds (but expect water out of water fountains to be hot). There are also a pair of "Chill Zones" with misters if you need to cool off. So enjoy the music, but be smart.