Excessive Heat — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2012-07-17 to 2012-07-18 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wider weather episode

Another unseasonably hot and humid air mass affected Eastern Pennsylvania on the 17th and 18th. High temperatures on the 17th reached into the mid to upper 90s in most places with afternoon heat indices near 100F. On July 18th, the combination of scorching high temperatures (near 100 degrees) and higher dew points produced hourly afternoon heat indices that reached between 106F and 111F, with the highest in Reading (Berks County). The hot weather ended as a backdoor cold front slowly sagged south through the state on the night of the 18th. There was one heat related death in Philadelphia, a 77-year-old man. Highest temperatures included 100 degrees at the Philadelphia International Airport and Reading (Berks County), 99 degrees in Quakertown (Bucks County), 98 degrees in Allentown (Lehigh County), Doylestown (Bucks County) and Pottstown (Montgomery County), 97 degrees in West Chester (Chester County) and even 94 degrees in Mount Pocono (Monroe County).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 403712. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.