August 17, 2015
Get used to the heat – it’ll be here awhile.
While the National Weather Service says we will flirt Monday with all-time high temperature for this date in Philadelphia – 96 degrees in 1995 – it has not yet declared an excessive heat advisory.
The temperature at 4 p.m. was 94 degrees at Philadelphia International Airport with 38 percent humidity, resulting in a heat index of 96 degrees, according to the weather service.
It was the third consecutive day of 90-degree temperatures or higher, and the fourth heat wave of the summer.
Health officials in Camden County issued its own heat advisory for Monday and Tuesday, effective noon to 7 p.m. each day.
Without a heat advisory posted by the weather service, the nonprofit Philadelphia Corporation for Aging's Heatline, an extended version of its Helpline that provides additional help for seniors feeling the heat, remains inactive.
When activated, the Philadelphia Department of Health provides nurses who answer questions about the heat and how to detect signs of heat stress. Mobile teams are ready to respond to situations needing intervention. The Heatline operates from 8:30 a.m. to midnight and on weekends.
The PCA Heatline has been activated twice this summer — July 19 and 29 — and received 252 calls.
The PCA encourages seniors to drink plenty of water; avoid caffeine and alcohol; wear loose, light-colored clothing and avoid the sun. Seniors are advised to turn on their air-conditioning units and seek help if they experience lightheadedness, heat cramps, heavy sweating, thirst, faintness, confusion or nausea.
The Department of Environmental Protection has issued an air quality health advisory through midnight Tuesday, warning that air quality within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards.
Temperatures will remain hot and the air sticky for the start of the work week as a heat wave settles in the region.
Monday especially will be a scorcher with temperatures in the high 90s. The rest of the week with be equally uncomfortable, but there will be temporary relief when thunderstorms are expected to roll in Thursday and Friday.
Here’s the forecast according to the National Weather Service:
Monday
Mostly sunny, hot and humid with highs in the mid 90s and southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Monday night
Partly cloudy with lows in the lower 70s and southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday
Partly sunny, hot and humid with highs in the lower 90s and south winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday night
Partly cloudy with lows in the lower 70s.
Wednesday
Partly sunny with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the lower 90s. Chance of rain is 30 percent.
Wednesday night
Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly sunny with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the lower 90s and a 40 percent chance of rain.
Thursday night
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then scattered showers after midnight with lows in the lower 70s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Friday
Partly sunny with scattered showers and thunderstorms and highs around 90. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Friday night
Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows around 70. Chance of rain 40 percent.
