Heat in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A high pressure system off the eastern seaboard pumped in hotter and then more humid air into the Philadelphia Metropolitan area during the week of August 16th. This gave the area its longest heat wave of the summer: 6 days. Humidity levels were initially comfortable, but became more humid as the week progressed. The hottest and most humid day was the 21st just before a cold front neared the area with numerous showers and thunderstorms. The high temperature of 95 degrees at the Philadelphia International Airport on the 21st matched the highest temperature of the year. There was one heat related death in Philadelphia, on the 17th. An 83-year-old woman was found dead in her West Philadelphia home. Her bedroom was not air conditioned, the windows were closed and only a small fan was running.