Cooling Centers Will Be Announced If Heat Demands It In Chesco

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Extreme heat is settling into southeastern Pennsylvania and Chester County can expect elevated temperatures through at least Wednesday, the National Weather Services has said.

Three days of extreme heat and potential thunderstorms are in the forecast for the Philadelphia region. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory through 8 p.m. Wednesday. Expect heat index values of up to 104 degrees in the Philadelphia region during the heatwave.

Temperatures are expected to climb to as much as 10 degrees above normal, the NWS said. The Heat Index in Chester County on Monday at 1 p.m. was 93 degrees, the temperature 86 degrees, according to the NWS.

The Chester County Department of Emergency Services said on Monday there are no specific cooling centers open at this time in Chester County.

Chester County's Emergency Services refers anyone who needs a place to go for cooling to call 211 for help finding a place, said Patty Mains, Assistant Director for External Liaison and Public Information.

If cooling centers do open, Chester County Emergency Services will post the specific sites on its website and on social media, Mains said.

The federal Department of Labor advises those who work outdoors especially to monitor the heat index, which takes into account humidity along with the temperature. Outdoor workers are advised by OSHA to begin to implement precautions when the heat index reaches 91 degrees.

The Chester County Emergency Services did issue a reminder for emergency responders in extreme heat, noting staying hydrated is important in preventing heat-related injuries as is keeping an eye on other people.

Read a story on this week's weather forecast here.

Make sure you know what's happening in your town. Sign up to get Patch emails and don't miss any local news: https://patch.com/subscribe.