Heat in Pennsylvania, August 11 to 20, 2002

The longest run of days with high temperatures of 90 or greater this summer occurred across Eastern Pennsylvania from the 11th through the 20th. This was the longest heat wave for the state since the twelve day heat wave during the summer of 1999. It also solidified August and the summer of 2002 as one of the ten hottest summers on record. Along with the heat came the humidity. The hottest weather occurred for most places on the 13th and 14th. A couple of weak cold fronts dissipated as they tried to cross the state during this heat wave. The only effect was to keep temperatures and humidity levels from getting any higher from the 15th through the 20th. A stronger cold front moved through the state on the 20th and ended the run of hot weather. PECO Energy set a new usage record. There were eight additional heat related deaths in the city of Philadelphia during this hot spell. This brought the city's heat related death total to 34. A 20-month-old toddler died after her grandfather accidently left her in his car for eight hours. The thirty-four heat related deaths was lower than similar hot summers during the early and mid 1990s. Thousands of acres of flat roofed attached housing can be turned into ovens during hot summers in urbanized areas. On days when excessive heat warnings are in effect, the Philadelphia Health Department issues heat alerts and coordinates an active heat outreach program to the elderly and homeless. Six thousand block captains are notified and asked to check on elderly neighbors. A heat hot line is activated to answer questions. The city contracts with Project Home, a private outreach program that provides water and support to the city's homeless. Group living homes are also required to keep room temperatures below 81 degrees. Most of the heat relate deaths, even those that perished during this heat wave, occur to the poor and isolated elderly. They tend to live in high crime and abandoned neighborhoods. Fear of crime keeps their windows and doors shut. Highest temperatures included 100 degrees in Reading (Berks County), 99 degrees in Stroudsburg (Monroe County) and the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley International Airports, 98 degrees in Doylestown (Bucks County) and 97 degrees in Pottstown (Montgomery County).