Skip to content
News | Vintage: August weather extremes and the dog…
78°F
Saturday, May 16th 2026

eNewspaper

Trending:

Becky Tomko and her 1-year-old daughter, Bethany, seek relief from the blistering heat in a small pool in the Uptown neighborhood on Aug. 3, 1988.
Phil Greer/Chicago Tribune
Becky Tomko and her 1-year-old daughter, Bethany, seek relief from the blistering heat in a small pool in the Uptown neighborhood on Aug. 3, 1988.

Vintage: August weather extremes and the dog days of summer

Author
By
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Becky Tomko and her 1-year-old daughter, Bethany, seek relief from the blistering heat in a small pool in the Uptown neighborhood on Aug. 3, 1988.
Becky Tomko and her 1-year-old daughter, Bethany, seek relief from the blistering heat in a small pool in the Uptown neighborhood on Aug. 3, 1988.
Automobiles struggle in a flooded underpass at 4600 Grand Avenue after a heavy rainstorm on Aug. 7, 1942. The weather bureau said the downpour was especially heavy downtown.
Automobiles struggle in a flooded underpass at 4600 Grand Avenue after a heavy rainstorm on Aug. 7, 1942. The weather bureau said the downpour was especially heavy downtown.
Children cool off in the spray from an open fire hydrant at Karlov and Maypole avenues on Aug. 19, 1983, in Chicago.
Children cool off in the spray from an open fire hydrant at Karlov and Maypole avenues on Aug. 19, 1983, in Chicago.
John Lee of the Lily Cache subdivision sits in his rocking chair on Aug. 29, 1990, surveying the damage done by the F-5 tornado that devastated his neighborhood in Plainfield the day before.
John Lee of the Lily Cache subdivision sits in his rocking chair on Aug. 29, 1990, surveying the damage done by the F-5 tornado that devastated his neighborhood in Plainfield the day before.
There are some places where a person is guaranteed to stay cool, and Park District worker John Odom Jr. is lucky enough to find one of them on Aug. 2, 1988, at the Burnham Park Yacht Club.
There are some places where a person is guaranteed to stay cool, and Park District worker John Odom Jr. is lucky enough to find one of them on Aug. 2, 1988, at the Burnham Park Yacht Club.
Rainfall fails to dampen summer love for Jose Sanchez and Norma Zamarron, who have the playground at Throop Street and Chicago Avenue all to themselves on Aug. 10, 1988. Most of the Chicago area, in fact, welcomed the day's frequent showers.
Rainfall fails to dampen summer love for Jose Sanchez and Norma Zamarron, who have the playground at Throop Street and Chicago Avenue all to themselves on Aug. 10, 1988. Most of the Chicago area, in fact, welcomed the day’s frequent showers.
Foster Avenue Beach on a warm and sunny Aug. 9, 1961
Foster Avenue Beach on a warm and sunny Aug. 9, 1961
Sam Cosentino, marooned by high water at 41st Street and Ashland Avenue from flooding on Aug. 9, 1946, hands his firm's telephone number to Al Berlatsky while Neal Wilson looks on from a perch atop a city tow truck, which stalled while towing a garbage truck, left background.
Sam Cosentino, marooned by high water at 41st Street and Ashland Avenue from flooding on Aug. 9, 1946, hands his firm’s telephone number to Al Berlatsky while Neal Wilson looks on from a perch atop a city tow truck, which stalled while towing a garbage truck, left background.
A pedestrian at Daley Center Plaza dons all the news that's fit to wear, creating a double shade against Tuesday's fierce sun on Aug. 7, 1979. The temperature peaked at 92 degrees, making the day the hottest of the year in Chicago.
A pedestrian at Daley Center Plaza dons all the news that’s fit to wear, creating a double shade against Tuesday’s fierce sun on Aug. 7, 1979. The temperature peaked at 92 degrees, making the day the hottest of the year in Chicago.
Black clouds move over 85th Street and Keating Avenue late on Aug. 4, 1967, which brought heavy rains to the city.
Black clouds move over 85th Street and Keating Avenue late on Aug. 4, 1967, which brought heavy rains to the city.
Children fan themselves as Sister Luz Eneida Limardo holds Sunday school class on the sidewalk to avoid the heat inside the Iglesia Fuente de Salvacion Misionera building at 1459 N. Campbell Ave. on Aug. 26, 1990.
Children fan themselves as Sister Luz Eneida Limardo holds Sunday school class on the sidewalk to avoid the heat inside the Iglesia Fuente de Salvacion Misionera building at 1459 N. Campbell Ave. on Aug. 26, 1990.
Daroll “Moon” Mullins, an iron worker helping to build the extension of East Wacker Drive, pauses in his labor to wipe the sweat from his forehead on Aug. 27, 1973. For Mullins, and others who work outside, the soaring temperatures that were searing Chicago were no fun at all. Mullins said, “Buddy if you think it’s hot on the ground, join me around noon on the steel beams.”
Donald White, 1, sits in the cool Lake Michigan water at Jackson Park Beach in August 1928.
Donald White, 1, sits in the cool Lake Michigan water at Jackson Park Beach in August 1928.
Police Officer Edward Lukaszewski holds back traffic as Muriel Cahn crosses Michigan Avenue in front of Tribune Tower while heavy fog rolls in from Lake Michigan on Aug. 4, 1959.
Police Officer Edward Lukaszewski holds back traffic as Muriel Cahn crosses Michigan Avenue in front of Tribune Tower while heavy fog rolls in from Lake Michigan on Aug. 4, 1959.
Youngsters huddle under a sheet of plastic as protection against rain while watching the city's birthday parade in the Loop on Aug. 24, 1962. Torchlights were ignited at each corner along the route and Mayor Richard J. Daley and other officials rode in open cars despite inclement weather.
Youngsters huddle under a sheet of plastic as protection against rain while watching the city’s birthday parade in the Loop on Aug. 24, 1962. Torchlights were ignited at each corner along the route and Mayor Richard J. Daley and other officials rode in open cars despite inclement weather.

More in News