The summer's hot and dry weather has left Illinois and much of the Midwest in a drought that has ruined corn crops and left residents scrambling to escape the dangerous heat. About two-dozen Cook County residents have died as a result of the hot and humid conditions.



The Chicago area fell just shy of setting a record with Tuesday's heat, but the National Weather Service says we have a good shot at breaking another record this year: The most number of days in the 90s.



Tuesday's high of 99 degrees was the 31st day this year with highs at or above 90 degrees in Chicago. The current record is 47 days, set back during the "blistering hot summer of 1988," the weather service said in a statement. So far, we're running ahead of the pace of 1988.



By this date in 1988, there had only been 26 days with highs in the 90s. The year didn't see its 31st 90-degree high temperature until July 30, meaning 2012 is running nearly two weeks ahead of 1988, according to the weather service.



chicagobreaking@tribune.com