Dangerous, Near Record-Level Heat In PA Thursday Forecast

PENNSYLVANIA - Thursday could be a record-setting scorcher in southeastern Pennsylvania, forecasters say, as temperatures just shy of 100 degrees are set to slam the region. “Feels-like” temperatures taking humidity and other factors into account could be as high as the mid-100s, forecasters added.

“Expect higher dew points this morning to mix out a bit by early afternoon, keeping heat indices from getting too excessive, but general 100-105 [degrees] still looks good,” National Weather Service forecasters wrote in a Thursday discussion.

As of Thursday morning, 11 Pennsylvania counties are listed under a heat advisory according to the National Weather Service, in effect through 8 p.m. on Friday. The counties are:

• Delaware
• Philadelphia
• Chester
• Montgomery
• Bucks
• Northampton
• Berks
• Lancaster
• Lebanon
• York
• Adams

"Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors," the National Weather Service said in the advisory. "Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances."

Very warm and muggy conditions at night won't be able to offer much relief either, the agency said.

AccuWeather's predicted RealFeel Temperatures will approach or exceed the 100-degree mark for several hours on Thursday afternoon over much of the Northeast, the weather service said, with RealFeel Temperatures to range between 105 and 110 for a few hours near the coast.

Showers and thunderstorms are also possible in the afternoon after 3 p.m., with the best chances for storms being north and west of Philadelphia into the Lehigh Valley and down into Central Jersey, the National Weather Service added.

“Severe [thunderstorm] risk is not high but not zero,” the National Weather Service said. “Can`t rule out an isolated flooding event either, but overall, marginal potential for both looks reasonable.

Here's the latest forecast, per the National Weather Service:

Thursday: Isolated showers between 3 and 5 p.m., then isolated showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 100. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms between 11 p.m. and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 101. Southwest wind around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 73.