Heat in Illinois, July 25 to 28, 1997

Name: Heat in Illinois, July 25 to 28, 1997
Start: 1997-07-25T11:00
End: 1997-07-28T19:00
Location: Illinois

July 25 to 28, 1997 · NWS PAH · 19 events in 19 counties and zones

High temperatures rose well into the 90s, with even a few 100 degree readings. High humidity pushed heat index values to between 105 and 115 degrees.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 19 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 12
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 19

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PAH wrote it up.

High temperatures rose well into the 90s, with even a few 100 degree readings. High humidity pushed heat index values to between 105 and 115 degrees. A heat advisory was issued for the potentially hazardous conditions. Area hospitals reported at least a half dozen cases of dehydration or other heat-related illnesses. An increase in the number of disabled vehicles was reported, as well.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Heat, Massac

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Massac forecast zone
Injuries: 6 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 37.219, -88.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High temperatures were in the upper 90s for three consecutive days. High humidity raised the heat index to near 110 degrees. About six people were treated for heat problems at area hospitals. Most of the symptoms were attributed to heat exhaustion. An increase in heat-related vehicle problems occurred.

Heat, Alexander

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Alexander forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.192, -89.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Edwards

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Edwards forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.417, -88.053 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Franklin

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.992, -88.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Gallatin

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Gallatin forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.763, -88.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Hamilton

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.082, -88.539 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Hardin

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.518, -88.267 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Jackson

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.785, -89.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Jefferson

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.301, -88.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Johnson

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.460, -88.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Perry

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.084, -89.367 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Pope

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Pope forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.413, -88.562 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Pulaski

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.223, -89.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Saline

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Saline forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.753, -88.541 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Union

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.471, -89.255 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Wabash

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Wabash forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.446, -87.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Wayne

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.430, -88.426 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, White

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: White forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.088, -88.180 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Williamson

When: July 25, 11:00 AM CST to July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Williamson forecast zone
Injuries: 6 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 37.730, -88.930 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heat: Heat below excessive heat criteria that still caused deaths, injuries or significant impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, July 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5609832, 5609833, 5609834, 5609835, 5609836, 5609837, 5609838, 5609839, 5609840, 5609841, 5609842, 5609843, 5609844, 5609845, 5609846, 5609847, 5609848, 5609849, 5609850.