At the end of the week, a bubble of warmth will break off from a searing heat dome over the South and Plains regions of the United States and surge into parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. (Credit: AccuWeather)
Get ready for round two of near 100-degree temperatures in Philadelphia. Though this time, the extreme heat expected this week should last only a few days, from Thursday to Saturday.
After a brief reprieve from the heat at the beginning of the week with noticeably cooler air, a bubble of warmth will break off from a searing heat dome over the South and Plains regions of the United States and surge into parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Temperatures are forecasted to reach 90 degrees on Thursday, 97 degrees on Friday, and 92 degrees on Saturday. Forecasters expect Real Feel temperatures up to 105 degrees.
"The late-week scorcher heading into the East will be a quick whiplash," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said. "The timing is in sync with the late-June surge in temperatures, but this one won’t last nearly as long."
Luckily, a backdoor cold front coming from New England will simmer the heat by Sunday.
After a few days of high temperatures, conditions are expected to drop by about 15-30 degrees in the wake of the front this upcoming weekend in some areas of the Northeast. Highs in the 90s will be replaced with highs in the 80s and even the 70s. As cooler and drier air combines with hot and humid air, rounds of severe thunderstorms are possible.
Philadelphia residents have experienced a very hot and humid summer — especially during the near-record-breaking mid-June heat wave. Temperatures reached 100 degrees in a city that had only endured 10 total days in June at that level, according to records dating back to 1873.
The Philadelphia Department of Health shared 10 tips for how to shoulder through extreme summer heat. Officials recommend finding access to air conditioning in indoor public spaces such as a library or shopping center, drinking water, only using fans with open windows, wearing lightweight and light-colored clothing, cooling off at a public spray ground or pool, among other helpful advice.
Two important resources are the Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF) and BenePhilly, which can help residents who may need assistance with the higher cost of utilities incurred by attempts to temper the heat.
Residents are encouraged to call the Homeless Outreach hotline at 215-232-1984 if they see someone on the street who needs shelter or support, and 267-385-3800 if they see a pet left outdoors in severe weather.
"While the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast have been no stranger to high humidity this summer, the mid-90s have only made an appearance once this month in Philadelphia," Merrill said. "The short, hot, and humid spell will be significant."
