Heat in Mclean, Illinois

A 55 year-old man died in the town of Gridley in northern McLean County on Monday, August 25th as a result of prolonged exposure to heat. High temperatures at the time of his death were in the lower 90s, while heat index values were between 100 and 105. A Heat Advisory was in effect for McLean County at the time.

A large upper-level ridge of high pressure built into the Midwest from August 22nd through August 26th, causing afternoon high temperatures to soar into the 90s. The hot temperatures combined with high relative humidity to produce heat index values in excess of 100 degrees. As a result, Heat Advisories were posted along and north of I-74, with an Excessive Heat Warning in effect further south across the remainder of south-central and southeast Illinois. One person died in northern McLean County due to prolonged heat exposure.