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