First Day of Summer Brings Serious Heat

The meteorologists say that summer officially arrived at 7:09 p.m. Wednesday. But the thermometers in Bethlehem and across the Lehigh Valley were saying that it really arrived several hours earlier – as the mercury climbed toward 90 degrees at noon and then kept going.

Officially, the National Weather Service measured the high temperature at 95 degrees at Lehigh Valley International Airport and the temperature-humidity index – a measure of how hot it actually feels – hit a blistering 100.

Some readings around Bethlehem read even hotter – like the clock on Stefko Boulevard, which read 104 degrees at 4 p.m.

At in South Bethlehem, several people waded out into the shallow waters of the Saucon Creek in an effort to keep cool.

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There was no such relief for the contractors laying into the sidewalk in front of the Goundie House on Main Street in the Historic Downtown.

Today is supposed to be worse, the foreman said.

The weather service has forecasted today’s high to hit 96 degrees – again with dangerously high humidity. A heat advisory remains in effect until 8 p.m. tonight and may be extended beyond that.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Air Quality Partnership of the Lehigh Valley/Berks Area has issued an “air quality alert” for the second consecutive day.

In other words, it will be another bad day to be outside, particularly if you are elderly, have heart or lung trouble or have asthma. If you must be outside, wear light colored, loose fitting clothes and drink plenty of water.

Check out these Red Cross tips for staying safe while the weather is this hot.

Hang in there. After another hot and somewhat stormy day on Friday, the weekend forecast is looking very pleasant.