Hurricane Agnes

Just got back from the supermarket. Up to 91 here now, about 2 degrees higher than yesterday at this time. Other difference from yesterday is that there is an almost completely blue sky (vs the cirrus deck yesterday) but there is a definite haze in the sky too. Wow. Humidity is up enough to be noticeable.

Yeah I think it had to do with a couple factors - dry air mixing in at some spots (I never got the "soupy" dews) and some persistent cirrus in places. For some reason, I radiated efficiently overnight to have a low that was lower than yesterday but now the temps caught up and I am now 1-2 degrees warmer than this time yesterday. Currently 82 and dews in the upper 60s, so a bit more steamy now.

Using my own lay characterizations, the location of the heat core pushed the hotter temps further north and east. I.e., it wasn't/isn't really positioned in a traditional "Bermuda High" configuration, with a conveyor belt of heat pouring up from the southwest. EWR hit 98 yesterday whereas PHL only hit 95. My sis and her hubby drove up to Jersey City yesterday to visit my niece in her new apartment and popped over to NYC to see the September 11 Memorial, and they noted it was broiling up there. Still, the fact that the heat core produced the heat that it did here, is significant given had it moved into Bermuda High position (without all the vortexes north and south), we would have hit closer to 100. Looking at my data, I registered a brief 95.7 at some point (probably between 3:30 - 4:00), so my high yesterday ended up being 96. It's currently 72, a full 4 degrees below my yesterday's temp at the same time, so not sure where things will go today, although the dews are up in the 70s now, which is a change.

Topped out at 95. Cirrus cloud deck still overhead. Current temp 92 and still haven't had the slam the door shut steam bath yet.

Hit 95 just after 1 pm, surpassing yesterday's high here, however like Voyager's obs, there has been a persistent deck of cirrus here (80 - 90% sky coverage the past hour) that is filtering the sun.

Have hit 94 now, tied with yesterday's high but about 1.5 hours earlier. Feeling blast-furnacey but still not steambath yet, although the dews are starting to creep up now into the upper 60s.

I finally saw one of those cicada killers. Huge wasps. I kept my distance too! I remember as a kid sitting at the top of a sliding board that went to the swing set in the backyard just before dusk (it was still light out) and getting whacked in the head by a huge cicada that was zooming from somewhere. Liked to knock me off the sliding board! LOL Temps now are still running about 2 - 3 degrees above those from yesterday at this time. Currently 92. DP is 64 so the slop hasn't advected in yet. The City of Philadelphia just issued a "Heat Health Emergency" - Health Commissioner Issues First Heat Health Emergency of 2018 PHILADELPHIA -- In response to forecasted maximum heat indexes over 100, Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, MD, MPH issued a Heat Health Emergency in Philadelphia. This designation begins Sunday, July 1, at noon and is scheduled to end Wednesday, July 4 at 8 p.m. A declaration of a Heat Health Emergency by the Health Commissioner activates the City’s emergency heat programs, including the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s Heatline, extended hours at select Free Library locations that have been designated as Cooling Centers, home visits by special field teams, enhanced daytime outreach for the homeless, and the City's annual reminder to the public to look in on older friends, relatives, and neighbors. The Heatline (215-765-9040) will be open Sunday, July 1, from noon through midnight; Monday, July 2, from 8:30 a.m. through midnight; Tuesday, July 3, from 8:30 a.m. through midnight; and Wednesday, July 4, from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., when the emergency declaration ends. The public is encouraged to call if they have questions about precautions they can take against the heat and detecting signs of heat stress. City Health Department nurses will be on-site to speak with callers about medical problems related to the heat. Health Commissioner Farley said, “we strongly urge the public to visit older friends, relatives and neighbors to ensure that air conditioners or fans are working and homes are adequately ventilated. In a heat wave, the majority of the victims are older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions.” Groups at risk in the extreme heat include people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, small children, those who work in a high heat environment, and persons engaged in strenuous physical activity. People who do not have air conditioning are advised to seek relief from the heat by visiting friends or relatives that have air conditioning. The City is also extending hours at air conditioned libraries throughout the city. Branches with extended hours are listed below. Residents can find all of the identified Cooling Centers, as well as pools, spraygrounds, recreation centers, libraries, and older adult centers on this map. The Department of Public Health recommends that to avoid heat-related illness, Philadelphians of all ages should adhere to the following simple rules: Use air conditioners. If you do not have access to air conditioning, find some. If using a fan, be sure to open windows to release trapped hot air. Drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids to prevent dehydration. Never leave older people, children, or pets alone in cars. Those taking regular medication should consult with their physician. Some medications cause an adverse reaction in hot weather. Wear lightweight clothing. Avoid, as much as possible, working or playing in the hot sun or other hot areas. Maintain a normal diet. Shower or bathe in water that is near skin temperature. The early warning signs of heat stress are decreased energy, slight loss of appetite, faintness, lightheadedness, and nausea. People experiencing these symptoms should go to a cool environment, drink fluids, remove excess clothing, and rest. 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 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. More information about Heat Health Emergencies and what residents can do to stay safe can be found here. This Heat Health Emergency coincides with Philadelphia’s annual Welcome America festival. July 4th festival attendees are encouraged to seek shade and review www.phila.gov/welcomeamerica to find free water refilling stations, misting tents, medic tents, ADA drop off locations, etc. Text "AMERICA" to 888-777 to receive real time Welcome America weather updates and public safety information. Welcome America sponsored free museum days allow the public to enjoy some culture and free air conditioning. Library Cooling Centers and hours Monday, July 2, 2018 Blanche A. Nixon Cobbs Creek Library, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Widener Library, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fumo Family Branch, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Haddington Library, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Oak Lane Library, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Logan Library, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Lillian Marrero Library, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, 2018 Joseph E. Coleman Regional Library, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Blanche A. Nixon Cobbs Creek Library, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Lucien E. Blackwell Regional Library, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Widener Library, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fumo Family Branch, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Haddington Library, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Oak Lane Library, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Logan Library, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Lillian Marrero Library, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Now 86 @ 9am, 2 degrees warmer than yesterday at this time so the temp trajectory is a bit steeper now. Dews still in the 60s.

Currently 82 @ 8 am, about the same temp as yesterday at this time except maybe a couple tenths higher today.

Could be an urban heat sink thing but whenever we would get mid-June heatwaves here (right before the schools let out), the cicadas would appear (not those famous 17 year brood ones but the "annual" ones). The past couple years have been cooler in June so they have been later to emerge. We grew up calling them "hot birds" (me and my sisters still call them that) because they signaled that it was going to get hot and that was usually what happened. Am guessing that's what our parents called them because telling a kid "that is a cicada" is like speaking an alien language. The more times we heard them during the day, the hotter it was going to get. Also I always remembered hearing the katydids in late summer here. That always signaled to me that fall was on the way! Funny aside - my sister texted late last night to say that she had 2 lightning bugs flying around her bedroom. lol Edit to add about the cicadas - was looking up some pics and audio clips and there are two I am used to seeing - one appears to be the "Northern Dusk-singing cicada" which is probably what let loose last night just before 8 pm (had a lower pitch pulsing buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzzbuzzbuzzbuzz buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz). We used to have a pine tree years ago in the backyard of the house I grew up in and we would see them and their casings attached to the trunk of that tree. They were huge. Then there is the "Linne's Cicada" that seems to be the most ubiquitous one around here in mid-summer (based on their sound), and they were a bit smaller with a more elongated body and long wings. Both had black eyes. And there is the "Dog Day circada" that gets talked about a lot that supposedly comes out in late summer, but the only place I remember ever hearing those was up in New England...never really heard their high-pitched bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt around here. Only once did I see one of those 17-year brood cicadas - and that was in my sister's backyard near the creek almost 15 years ago (in Wyndmoor). I had never seen those red-eyed ones before.

I seem to only have 1 "resident" lightning bug that I saw again tonight (my sister in Wyndmoor has hundreds but then she has a creek at the bottom of her yard and they fill up the silver maple that is planted next to the creek). I guess the crickets will be next.

Heard my first cicadas this evening. Seems sortof late but then the spring was prolonged so maybe the soil finally warmed up enough to finally hatch them. Currently 86.

94 ended up being the high. Currently down to 92 now. Whatever temp ends up being the low tomorrow morning will determine how high it goes here. That persistent rain down in the SE doesn't seem to be conducive to getting a good "Bermuda High" configuration and conveyor of heat pouring up here (at least in Philly proper - may be better further north) so I am doubting any high upper 90s... at least IMBY but we shall see!

Hit 94 just after 2:30 pm. Currently 94 at post time and that may be as high as it goes but will see. Dps in the mid-60s w/humidity 39%, so hot but not steambath. Still seeing cirrus (no cumulus yet).

Now at 93 (reached right around 1 pm), tying my high for the year so far that happened on June 18th (which wasn't reached back then until just after 3 pm).

Hit 91 just before noon. Cirrus clouds moving in from south --> north.

Yup, hit 90 on the nose here at 11 am. I was out this morning giving my plants a deep watering about an hour ago. Hopefully that will hold them for a few days.

The last two 90+ degree days here (before yesterday) were June 17 & June 18th, and by 8 am both days, the temps had reached 78 (yesterday was at 79 at 8am). Today, the temp is at 82, a full 3 - 4 degrees warmer at the same time. So given the 18th hit 93 here, it should theoretically go higher here today with this sort of ramp-up. Currently 82 and not a cloud in the sky. Dews in the 60s but not bad out there yet.

Reached a high of 90 today (day 1 of potential heatwave) and currently 86, with relatively low humidity. Mt. Holly has an Excessive Heat Warning up for metro Philly and portions of the immediate rim counties for Sunday & Monday. It will be interesting to see how close we might get to Heat Advisory criteria tomorrow.

Had a low of 71 this morning (degree higher than yesterday's low) and currently 84 (closing in on 85) with lots of cirrus in the blue sky. Definitely not as steamy as yesterday but that will change soon enough.

Had a steamy high of 88 today (no more rain so far) and currently 82 and partly cloudy. Will be interesting what the low will be tomorrow morning (low was 70 this morning).

Currently 85 and partly cloudy with dews in the 70s and very unstable-looking/feeling out there... like I'm in Louisiana steam bath swamp. I would not be surprised to see some pop-ups as the cool front approaches.

I opened the back door and slammed it shut because I could hardly breathe. Only time we get close to those "upper 90s" is if there was a period of drought or at least significant days of dry weather before that hottest day. Otherwise the sun will have to burn off all that moisture in the ground first before the temp starts rising above the low-mid 90s. The heat index/"real feel" might be close to that however, based on the humidity.

Sky clearing and sun is now out. That rain is going to equal steam bath today (at least until the cool front comes through to drop that temporarily). Temp up to 74.

Had another light shower to add to previous totals and now up to 0.59" total for the day (so far), with 0.57" out of the last round (at post time). Temp is down to 70 and overcast with some mist.