PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — After a three-week stretch without a high temperature of 90 degrees or higher in the Philadelphia region, we reached that number for the 31st time this year on Tuesday. Wednesday will be even warmer across the region, as temperatures climb into the low to mid 90s, with wind chills likely ranging from 100-103 degrees. Late Wednesday, all the heat and humidity will increase the chance for showers and storms in the evening hours.
The record temperature on Wednesday is 37 degrees Celsius and dates from 1973. We are then much closer to that temperature than the normal maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius.
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Some storms Wednesday afternoon and evening could become severe, with damaging winds the primary concern. At this time, storms appear to be moving out of the Poconos and Lehigh Valleys in the late afternoon and early evening, and into the Delaware Valley in the evening hours. The most active time frame now is between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM, as a line of storms moves across the area.
The combination of dangerous heat and humidity has led to a NEXT Weather Alert Day on Wednesday to keep you and your family safe and prepared for the potentially dire conditions.
CBS News Philadelphia
The chance of extreme weather decreases as the storms move further southeast through Wednesday evening.
Wednesday afternoon’s storms will be ahead of a cold front that will move through the region, ushering in more seasonal conditions for the second half of the week. Highs on Thursday and Friday will struggle to get above 70 under mostly cloudy skies.
Another storm system will bring scattered showers and storms to the region on Saturday. These storms are expected to last until the afternoon and could continue Saturday night into early Sunday morning.
The last unofficial day of summer, Labor Day, looks dry, but it will be chilly, with temperatures reaching over 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Here’s your 7-day forecast:
CBS News Philadelphia
Wednesday: High 96, low 71, heat, afternoon storms
Thursday: High 78, low 72, clouds, some sun
Friday: High 77, low 63, clouds, some sun
Saturday: High 82, low 66, scattered storms
Sunday: High 84, low 71, clearings
Monday: High 79, Low 68, Partly Cloudy
Tuesday: High 75, Low 55, Partly Cloudy
