This Weekend: 100-Degree Heat, Heavy Downpours, 'Gusty' Thunderstorms In Delaware County

By JUSTIN HEINZE (Patch Staff)

A heat advisory has been issued for southeastern Pennsylvania for the upcoming weekend, as both severe heat and thunderstorms are possible.

The National Weather Service is calling for thunderstorms on both Saturday and Monday.

And on Sunday, temperatures are predicted to soar up to 94 degrees throughout the area. A heat advisory is in effect from noon until 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The heat index could read somewhere between 100 and 105 degrees. Low temperatures are expected to only reach the upper 70s in the evening.

A heat advisory is issued when conditions make “heat illness possible,” according to the Chester County Health Department.

The Montgomery County Health Department has released the following tips for staying safe in extreme heat:

• Drink plenty of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• If at all possible, try to get outdoor work completed during the morning to avoid the warmest part of the day.
• Keep windows and interior doors open when running a fan at home.
• Keep cool by seeking an air-conditioned building if available, if not, seek rest in the shade.?
• Most of the Senior Adult Activity Centers (SAACs) are air-conditioned, as are malls and libraries.

Serious signs of heat stress include unconsciousness, rapid heartbeat, throbbing headache, dry skin, chest pain, mental confusion, irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, staggering and difficulty breathing.

People experiencing these symptoms should get to immediate medical attention. While waiting for help, move the person to a cool area, remove excess clothing, spray with water, and fan the person. In an emergency, dial 911.

Thunderstorms, meanwhile, could put a serious damper on Saturday events. Be sure to check back for an updated forecast as the day approaches.

Here’s your complete weekend forecast, per Weather.gov:

Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94 at about 3 p.m. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

See a full weather forecast here.