It’s hot, hot, hot, but still not record hot in Philadelphia
Philadelphia didn't reach a record-breaking high temperature Friday, though it might have felt like it. The temperature had reached a high of 102 as of 4 p.m. The record is 104.
No question, it’s hot, hot, hot. But record hot? Not on Friday.
It was not likely that Philadelphia would see a record-breaking high temperature.
The record high for a July 3 stands at 104 degrees, set in 1966. As of about 4 p.m., the temperature had reached 102, according to the National Weather Service office at Mount Holly.
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The Atlantic City Airport, however, hit 105 degrees — tying for the daily record there.
Just because Philadelphia didn’t break a high-temperature record doesn’t mean the heat hasn’t had a big impact. The Wawa’s Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade, scheduled for Friday, was canceled due to heat concerns.
Storms also posed a risk. A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for the entire region on Friday, and on Saturday, the risk looked even greater.
“Any storm could be strong to severe,” said Ray Martin, meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly.
The risk on Friday was more to the north and west of the city, said Matt Benz, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.
On Saturday, Benz said there was about a 65% chance of thunderstorms in the evening when Philadelphia’s July Fourth concert is scheduled to be underway on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
“At this point, it’s difficult to promise dry weather for fireworks,” he said.
Philadelphia, where fireworks aren’t scheduled to start until close to 12 a.m., might have the best shot of not being impacted by weather, he said.
“As we get close to midnight, we might start to dry out,” he said.
Concern about lightning strikes could be more widespread than storms, Benz.
Meanwhile, AccuWeather said Philadelphia was forecast to only drop to 83 degrees overnight Friday into Saturday, which would tie the city’s all-time record for a high minimum temperature.
The good news is both SEPTA and Peco reported no major weather-related problems Friday afternoon.
Regional Rail trains were traveling 10 miles slower to alleviate stress on the overhead wire and tracks, which can be impacted by the heat, said Andrew Busch, spokesperson for SEPTA. The slower speed has led to some delays.
Peco recommends that customers keep their thermostats between 75 and 78 during the day and shades drawn, said spokesperson Izamarie Camacho. All unnecessary lights and devices also should be turned off, Camacho said.
Local hospitals contacted didn’t immediately report an uptick in heat-related illnesses or injuries. Temple University Hospital’s main campus had five heat-related cases on Friday as of 4:30 p.m., according to a spokesperson. No other information about the cases or whether it was an increase from prior days was available.
The Philadelphia Fire Department has seen “a marked increase in calls” over the last few days, said Rachel Cunningham, communications director. There were more than 1,000 calls on Wednesday and Thursday, but the department didn’t have a breakdown on how many were heat-related.
The number of calls on Friday was not available.
The number of people seen at the department’s medic tents at Lemon Hill, where the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival is occurring, and Lincoln Financial Field, where the games are held, has remained relatively low. Just four people came in on Thursday, with two becoming patients and no one requiring transport to a hospital, Cunningham said. On Wednesday, five people came in, one becoming a patient and no one requiring transport. And on Tuesday, 14 people came in, with five becoming patients and two requiring transport to a hospital.
The coolest spot in the region looks to be the Jersey Shore, Benz said. The Atlantic City boardwalk was 82 degrees at about 3 p.m. Friday.
“You almost have to be touching the water to feel that kind of temperature,” he said.
A sea dip is one sure way to get cool — ocean water temperatures are in the low 60s, he said.
But for those celebrating the holiday in Philadelphia, Benz said “stay hydrated, take it easy, enjoy the Fourth, and keep an eye on the sky.”
