It’s going to be a scorcher outside this weekend through Thursday. Temperatures will be in the 90s but the heat index will make it feel more like 100 plus degrees.

Dr. Bechara Choucair is the commissioner for the Chicago Department of Public Health. At a press conference Friday afternoon he said extreme heat and humidity are more than an inconvenience - “they are dangerous and can be deadly.”

He cautioned Chicagoans to stay hydrated, stay indoors with air conditioning, and be sure to check on neighbors and the elderly. If you have to venture outside, loose-fitting, lightly colored clothing is recommended as well as wearing sunsreen and a hat with a brim.

Chicagoans who don’t have air conditioning are encouraged to head to cooling centers, libraries, city park facilities or even police stations. If hanging out at the police station doesn’t sound fun, cooler options include movie theaters and shopping centers.

Commonwealth Edison is keeping extra crews around for heat-related power outages. As of Friday afternoon, 30,000 Chicago area residents are still without power after Monday’s storm. A ComEd spokesman said power should be restored to those residents by Friday evening.

For residents who wish to receive alerts from Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, visit www.alertchicago.com and click on the “Notify Chicago” link.