What to Know
- After several days of dangerously high temperatures, the heat wave came to an end in our region on Sunday.
- The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for all neighborhoods.
- Sunday's high in Philadelphia reached 98 with a feels-like temperature of 107.
After several days of dangerously high temperatures, the heat wave came to an end in our region on Sunday.
A First Alert was in effect Sunday for the entire region. The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for all neighborhoods.
The day prior, Atlantic City, New Jersey, broke a heat record when temperatures hit 99 degrees. The previous record for that date was 97 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
How Hot Did It Get?
Sunday's high in Philadelphia reached 98 with a feels-like temperature of 107. The last time we saw these highs in Philadelphia was in 2012. In 2011, we also saw two 100 degree days.
This year we’ve experienced 14 days at 90 degrees so far, but that’s nowhere near the record high in 2010. That year, we had 55 days at 90 or higher.
The average temperature for this time of year is 87 degrees, so we are well above average into early next week.
The Most Dangerous Time to Be Outdoors
The hottest temps occurred from noon to 6 p.m. and power outages occurred in several areas.
Jersey Central Power & Light reported 6,023 customers were without power in Ocean County late Sunday afternoon, including more than 2700 without power in Point Pleasant. Power was later restored to the majority of the homes by Sunday evening.
A nursing home in Voorhees Township, Camden County, was also evacuated Sunday after the AC unit broke down.
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Storms also hit parts of Lehigh, Berks, Northampton and Lancaster counties Sunday evening. A child was struck by lightning in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and taken to the hospital.
The City of Philadelphia issued its first heat health emergency of the summer, joining other area communities, including Camden, Mercer and Montgomery counties and Wilmington, in launching initiatives for helping people more susceptible to the heat.
"We strongly urge the public to visit older friends, relatives and neighbors to ensure that air conditioners or fans are working and homes are adequately ventilated," Philly Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said.
"In a heat wave, the majority of the victims are older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions."
The National Weather Service says that heat is responsible for more deaths each year than any other weather event.
Monday's Forecast
MONDAY: Hot and humid with scattered thunderstorms likely. High in the upper 80s.
Follow the NBC10 First Alert Weather team and download the NBC10 app to keep ahead of the dangerous heat and storms.
