Wet start to the weekend in Philadelphia; conditions will dry and clear out before heat wave returns
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Welcome to the weekend! Have your umbrella handy for the first half of Saturday as showers and storms, with occasional rounds of heavy rain, will bring 2 to 4 inches of rain in spots leading to a chance of flooding.
Rain likely won't lead to any more flash flooding in the area, however, showers are still working their way through.
A flood watch is still in effect through Saturday afternoon but it's a diminished risk of any life or property threats. NEXT Weather meteorologist Andrew Kozak said after 2 p.m., we should be in the clear.
Saturday won't be a complete washout of a day. We'll have a couple of strong storms across the area this afternoon. After about 3-4 p.m., the shore should start to dry up. Conditions will clear out a little earlier in Philly and the Lehigh Valley.
After we get the rain out of the way Saturday early on, some sun returns with a high of 88 featuring a southwest wind around 5 to 15 mph. Come Saturday night, temperatures will drop down to 75 feeling muggy and warm with patchy fog.
By Sunday we rebound back to the 90s and early next week, the high temperature could approach the upper 90s, prompting a NEXT Weather Alert for Monday and Tuesday.
Philadelphia Health Department declares Heat Health Emergency in effect starting Monday, July 15 through Wednesday, July 17
With another heat wave returning this week, health officials declared a heat emergency in Philadelphia starting Monday, July 15 at 8 a.m. through Wednesday, July 17 at 11:59 p.m. The heat emergency could extend.
Interim Health Commissioner Dr. Frank Franklin issued the heat emergency Saturday morning.
The city has cooling centers, a heat hotline, home visits by special field teams and more as they also remind the public to check on older friends, family and neighbors from a distance.
"The Health Department declares a Heat Health Emergency when the temperature gets high enough that vulnerable people – especially our elderly neighbors and family members – are at an increased risk of getting sick or dying from the heat," said Franklin in the release. "The best way to protect our loved ones is to make sure they can get into air conditioning during the hottest part of the day. As always, we encourage Philadelphians to check on elderly friends and neighbors to make sure they're safe and don't need assistance. If you're worried about someone's health during the emergency, you can call the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging's Heatline at 215-765-9040."
Philadelphia Water Department shutoffs are suspended during a heat emergency and shutoffs for nonpayments will continue after the heat emergency ends, as stated in the release.
Heat advisory issued Sunday to Monday
Sunday is headlined by heat as temperatures could feel as hot as 102 degrees.
A heat advisory is in effect from 10 a.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday with temperatures feeling as hot as 100 to 102 degrees.
And if you thought that was hot, think again! An excessive heat watch will go into effect Monday morning through Tuesday night with temperatures expected to feel as hot as 105 to 110 across the area.
By the time we get into Monday afternoon, the heat and humidity combined could feel as hot as 105 to 107 degrees.
The next heat wave shouldn't be quite as long, with another brief cooldown expected on Thursday following another cold front on Wednesday, which brings another round of showers and storms.
Stay with the NEXT Weather Alert team for the latest updates on heat and storms in the Delaware Valley.
Here's your 7-day forecast:
Saturday: High of 88, low of 75, morning fog and storms
Sunday: High of 94, low of 75, hot and humid
Monday: High of 97, low of 74, NEXT Weather Alert for heat
Tuesday: High of 99, low of 75, NEXT Weather Alert for heat
Wednesday: High of 96, low of 79, extremely hot and storms
Thursday: High of 84, low of 73, scattered storms
Friday: High of 85, low of 68, partly cloudy
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