PA Heat Index Likely Over 100 Degrees This Week: NWS

PENNSYLVANIA - The summer heat isn’t leaving southeast Pennsylvania anytime soon, forecasters say, as temperatures that feel over 100 degrees are slated to hit the region this week.

The heat wave that has been responsible for the record-breaking scorching temperatures in the Northwest will shift eastward during the first week of August, according to AccuWeather, bringing temperatures from near-average levels to 5-15 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.

"The first week of August is expected to feature an expansive swath of well-above-average temperatures spanning from the Dakotas to the East Coast. High temperatures well into the 90s with AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures soaring into the triple digits will require air conditioning units to constantly run," AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.

The hottest day of the week appears to be Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, where temperatures in the 90s could feel as hot as near or above 100 degrees, possibly warranting a heat advisory.

Temperatures will head into the 90s starting Tuesday with a high near 91 degrees, then dipping slightly with a high near 90 on Wednesday, forecasters said. Friday will see a high around 93 degrees before falling back into the 80s on Saturday. But that’s without taking humidity into account, which could make days feel much hotter.

"Heat of this magnitude can be dangerous if an extended amount of time is spent outside. Frequent breaks, plenty of hydrating fluids and wearing light-colored and loose-fitting clothing can help to minimize the effects," Buckingham said.

For those who are averse to the heat, Monday may be the coolest day this week with morning showers lingering until around 10 a.m., the National Weather Service said. In the afternoon, partially sunny skies and a drier forecast is expected. Temperatures in the mid-80s will prove cooler than this past weekend, but humidity will increase, forecasters added.

“Showers will depart the region this morning, with the bulk of the day turning out precipitation-free,” the National Weather Service Mount Holly station tweeted Monday. “It will not be as warm as yesterday, but the increased humidity will be noticeable. Clouds will linger much of the day, but breaks of sun will be more likely later in the day.”

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

Monday: A chance of showers, mainly before 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.

Tuesday: Patchy fog before 7 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 90. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. West wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71.