Volunteer Training for the Chicago Heat Watch 2023

Chicago, along with 17 other communities across the country, is building a team of resident scientists to measure heat across communities this summer. Factors like humidity, tree coverage, air flow, heavy traffic, humidity, and the density of buildings and concrete each contribute to how intense the heat feels. On one day, over three shifts (morning, midday, and evening) volunteers will travel routes with heat sensors on their own cars. Each sensor records temperature, humidity, time, and location. This information will be analyzed and used to give Chicago residents and government decision-makers a clearer picture of ways to improve Chicago’s heat safety strategies.

Volunteers will be contacted in June to be trained on the campaign. The date for driving and navigating through your community will occur on one day and setting that date depends on the weather predictions that require a clear, sunny, and hot day. On average, the hottest days of the year occur sometime around mid-July but can occur later in the month. The exact date won’t be known until closer to July but we will be in regular contact with all volunteers to announce the exact date for volunteering.