Extreme heat seeps into July 4th weekend in Philly

Published on June 30 | Last updated on July 4

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Utility companies are predicting near-record usage this week as temperatures soar into the triple digits starting on Thursday.

An extreme heat warning went into effect at noon on Wednesday and lasts through 8 p.m. on Sunday. AccuWeather said temperatures reached 96 degrees on Wednesday, with a real feel of 104 degrees, and 102 degrees on Thursday and Friday, with real feels of 109 degrees. By Saturday, the temp will drop a few degrees to about 97, but the real feel will be 105 degrees. A thunderstorm is possible Saturday night. A Code Orange was declared on Tuesday, and a heat health emergency is in effect.

PJM Interconnection, the regional power grid, predicted that electricity use Thursday afternoon could top its 2006 record of 165,500 megawatts. PJM said it has sufficient resources to meet that demand if generation and transmission perform as expected.

It’s also asking data centers to use backup generators during the extreme weather.

At PECO, spokesman Matt Rankin said the utility has been beefing up its infrastructure year-round to prepare for stress on the system.

“Whether that’s poles, wires, transformers — we retire old substations and upgrade them to handle a larger load,” Rankin said.

Rankin advises customers to use ceiling fans, turn off unnecessary lights and keep thermostats at a constant temperature to reduce the impact of the heat wave on their electric bills.

PSE&G said if you have the air conditioning set to 75 degrees, it takes 300% more electricity to cool your home when it’s 95 degrees than when it’s 85 degrees outside.

City celebrations cut short

Some of the big events in the region this week are being cut short because of the heat.

Friday's 38th annual Liberty Medal Ceremony at the National Constitution Center, honoring Pope Leo XIV, was held indoors. Seating was limited to invited guests. The pope’s live virtual address from the Vatican went on as scheduled.

The route for Friday's Salute to Independence Parade was shortened. Instead of a 2.5-mile route, it was just one mile from Independence Hall to City Hall.

Other Wawa Welcome America July Fourth festivities in Philly are being altered, too. The All-American Block Party that was supposed to happen on Thursday was canceled. The start of the Red, White and Rosé Picnic was pushed to 6 p.m. Thursday. And, Thursday's Salute to Service concert featuring Queen Latifah and the U.S. Army Field Band was canceled.

Friday's Salute to Independence Parade was also canceled. The Philly Pops concert with Idina Menzel on Independence Mall was moved back to 8 p.m. Friday. Saturday's One Philly: Unity Concert for America at Eakins Oval is still on.

In New Jersey, Washington Township canceled its July Fourth parade. The fireworks display at 9 p.m. is still scheduled to take place.

In Norristown, officials have canceled the Fourth of July Parade due to the excessive heat warning. No other events in the borough have been canceled.

The City of Millville canceled its Fourth of July festivities. It said the extreme weather poses a risk for attendees, volunteers, vendors, and staff. The fireworks display has been rescheduled for July 5 at 9 p.m. at the Tim Shannon Sports Complex, behind Lakeside Middle School.

Delaware County has canceled its Fourth of July parade in Marple Newtown.

For those who do brave the heat to take part in outdoor events, Philly emergency officials ask that you watch out for various popups and cooling sites they've set up.

“Keep an eye out for misting fans and shade structures at fan festivals and on the Parkway," urged Dominick Mireles, director of Philly's Office of Emergency Management. “Stop and visit any of the six pop-up visitor centers and hospitality hubs throughout Center City for a restroom break, a cool drink of water or information."

How to stay cool

AccuWeather recommends drinking plenty of fluids, staying out of the sun if possible, checking on relatives and neighbors, and wearing lightweight and loose-fitting clothes.

“The very old and the very young are the most vulnerable, so please look in on the elderly, make sure they're in a cool environment, and obviously infants and young children, just keep them out of the heat. They really can't tolerate it as well. You want to do all you can to protect these individuals,” said KYW Medical Editor Dr. Brian McDonough.

Pools and spraygrounds are open and available to the public. The city also has a list of cooling centers and other heat-related resources on its website. The city is asking residents not to open fire hydrants to stay cool, as that may damage them.

If your home does not have air conditioning, or you do not have shelter, call 211 or visit your county or state health department website for help.

Philly has also activated its heatline. If you see someone struggling in the heat, get help by calling 215-765-9040.

In addition, Delaware County has declared a code red alert for heat and urges residents to check out its updated heat plan, including a list of cooling centers across the county and other helpful information.

Animal welfare experts are also reminding pet owners to keep a close watch on their animals during the extreme heat.

Sara Smith, a spokesperson for the Brandywine Valley SPCA, said if you have an outdoor cat, try to keep it inside and make sure your pets stay hydrated.

“Some cats don't drink enough, so try a fountain or adding water to their food,” Smith said. “If they are not getting enough water on their own, you can give them a little wet food or add water to their crunchies."

The same goes for dogs. Keep walks short, in the shade and off asphalt and pavements as much as possible so their paws won't burn. Keeping them in an air-conditioned space is a good idea, too.

Car safety

The inside of a car without the engine running can climb more than 40 degrees hotter than the outside temperature. Children and animals have trouble regulating their body temperatures, and can quickly suffer from heatstroke if trapped inside.

Experts advise talking to your children early about car safety.

“If you get in, you may not be able to get yourself back out,” said Amber Rollins, executive director of Kids and Car Safety.

The nonprofit’s founder is from Philadelphia and is responsible for requiring escape latches to be installed in car trunks.

Rollins urges parents to teach children that it is never okay to enter a car without an adult.

“Eighty-eight percent of children that die in hot cars are age 3 and under. And then the children who get in on their own and become trapped, that’s about 1/4 of fatalities, tend to be slightly older. So age 1 to 5 approximately.”

Rollins said all drivers, not just parents, should always lock the doors when leaving a car unsupervised, and she suggests teaching children to honk the car horn to ask for help.