BLOG: Second Heat Wave On Its Way!
By: Kate Bilo
Last year, on June 6th, Philadelphia was just finishing up its first heat wave. This year, on June 6th, we've already got one under our belts and we're heading towards a potential second heat wave later this week. It bears remembering, though, that by this time last year, we had already experienced seven days of 90 degree plus heat, while this year we've had four. However, if the end of the week forecast plays out as anticipated, we could be neck and neck with last year, which was the hottest summer on record in Philadelphia.
In 2010, we had 55 days that clocked in at 90 degrees or better. Our average? 21 days. Last year, as we know, we very unusual - our snowiest winter and hottest summer on the books, all in one year. This year hasn't been quite as extreme so far, although we did more than double our normal snowfall totals. Hopefully this doesn't mean we'll double our 90+ days as well!
Last year, we finished with a total of 8 heat waves, if you use the rule of "3+ days of 90+ heat".
Temperatures over the course of the summer averaged almost 5 degrees above normal. It was brutal, as I'm sure you remember. This year, despite the hot start to meteorological summer, we are expecting more normal summertime heat, thanks to a weakening La Nina and, eventually, a near-neutral current pattern. We do expect a slightly more active hurricane season, which could mean more wet weather during a portion of the summer, if the Bermuda high tends to send more storms up the East Coast. An increase in moisture could then lead to an inhibition of heating.
However you slice it, we've had our fair share of summerlike weather already, and it's only the first week of June! Temperatures Wednesday and Thursday will reach into the middle 90's, with Thursday's high in some spots challenging the 100-degree mark. Friday remains a bit of a wait-and-see - with more shower and t-storm activity ahead of an approaching cold front, we'll have to see if the 90 mark can be reached, making it our second "official" heat wave of the year.
Last June we had 15 days above the 90 mark - that's half the month! Since the number-one weather-related killer is heat, let's hope that doesn't happen again this year.
