Hot! 97 at Philly International ties record

The temperature reached 97 degrees at 4 p.m. at Philadelphia International Airport, tying the record high set in 1964.

It got even hotter at Northeast Philadelphia Airport, keeping at sizzling 98 from 2 to 4 this afternoon.

The only temperature that counts for records, though, is the one at the South Philadelphia airport, according to meteorologist Lee Robertson of the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.

The upward creep could even continue as late as 5 p.m. "Yes, it's a possibility," he said.

Record or not, 98 sure is hot. It's the highest mark for either airport during the current heat wave, as well as the hottest city temperature this year.

A PECO representative said the hot weather has led to isolated power outages throughout the area. However, Cameron Kline said, "for this to be the third day of 90-degree weather, the system is doing quite well."

Trenton did break its record today, hitting 96 around 3 p.m., breaking the 95 set in 1984.

Yesterday, Philly International's high was 97, exceeding Sunday's recording-tying 95, and Saturday's heat-wave kick-start of 94.

Around the region today, a couple of places seemed to be cooling off by 3 p.m. Mount Holly was at 96, down from 97. Quakertown was at 93, down from 95. And Pomona, N.J., outside Atlantic City, was at 95, down from 97 (short of the high of 99 set in 1984.

Otherwise, temperatures were still at their peaks at 3 p.m. - 96 in Wilmington; 95 in Willow Grove, Pottstown, and Doylestown; 93 in Wildwood.

Don't expect the rain relief to arrive until well into the evening. Thunderstorms might appear by 10 p.m., with showers and T-storms possible until 1 a.m.

Winds and heavy rain are possible in some areas.

That should take the steam out of the heat wave, with highs for the rest of the week in the low to mid 80s.