Excessive Heat, Berks
- When
- July 23, 9:00 AM EST to July 25, 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- Berks forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 40.416, -75.926 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Excessive Heat in Pennsylvania, July 23 to 25, 2010
The last heat wave in July culminated with some of the highest heat indices of the summer on the 24th and numerous high temperatures in the mid to upper 90s in Berks County and southeastern Pennsylvania. The combination of the heat and humidity produced heat index values of around 105 degrees on the 24th.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 4
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 6
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.
The last heat wave in July culminated with some of the highest heat indices of the summer on the 24th and numerous high temperatures in the mid to upper 90s in Berks County and southeastern Pennsylvania. The combination of the heat and humidity produced heat index values of around 105 degrees on the 24th. The excessive heat caused four more heat related deaths in southeastern Pennsylvania, three in Philadelphia and one in Bucks County. In Bucks County, a 20-year-old severely autistic man died on the 24th after he was left in a parked van outside of a Langhorne care center. In Philadelphia, the heat claimed the life of a 66-year-old woman, a 90-year-old woman (found in an apartment with closed windows and a fan on) and a 56-year-old man. Delaware County opened cooling centers through the weekend of the 24th and 25th.
The heat wave ended with strong to severe thunderstorms that preceded a strong cold frontal passage during the afternoon of the 25th. Highest temperatures included 97 degrees in Philadelphia, 96 degrees in Reading (Berks County), 95 degrees in Pottstown (Montgomery County), 94 degrees in London Grove (Chester County) and 93 degrees in Doylestown (Bucks County). The month of July was one of the hottest Julys on record in Eastern Pennsylvania. It was the 2nd hottest July on record in Philadelphia (monthly mean temperature of 81.7 degrees) and the 6th hottest July on record in Reading (monthly mean temperature of 78.8 degrees). It also tied July 1999 and 1995 for the most days with temperatures of 90 degrees or higher (20 days). Even the Poconos did not escape the heat as it was the third warmest July on record (71.8 degrees) in Mount Pocono (Monroe County).
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 23, 3:32 AM EST, 5 hours 28 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 23, 3:32 AM EST, 5 hours 28 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 23, 2:30 AM EST, 6 hours 30 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 330 AM EDT FRI JUL 23 2010 NJZ015-019-PAZ067>071-240730- MERCER-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-CHESTER-MONTGOMERY-BUCKS-DELAWARE- PHILADELPHIA- 330 AM EDT FRI JUL 23 2010 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NEW JERSEY...SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED THE AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH. INCREASING HEAT AND HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TODAY AND ESPECIALLY SATURDAY. HEAT INDEX VALUES MAY REACH OR EXCEED 105 DEGREES IN URBAN AREAS SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. DEZ001-NJZ017-018-240730- NEW CASTLE-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN- 330 AM EDT FRI JUL 23 2010 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN DELAWARE AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH. INCREASING HEAT AND HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TODAY AND ESPECIALLY SATURDAY. HEAT INDEX VALUES MAY REACH OR EXCEED 105 DEGREES IN URBAN AREAS SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NJZ001-007>010-012-PAZ060>062-240730- SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-BERKS-LEHIGH- NORTHAMPTON- 330 AM EDT FRI JUL 23 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW JERSEY...NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY AND EAST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED THE AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. HEAT INDEX VALUES MAY REACH AROUND 105 DEGREES SATURDAY AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. PAZ054-055-240730- CARBON-MONROE- 330 AM EDT FRI JUL 23 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED THE AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED THE AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR SATURDAY. HEAT INDEX VALUES MAY REACH AROUND 100 DEGREES SATURDAY AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATER TODAY AND AGAIN SATURDAY. DEZ002>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ013-014-016-020>027-240730- KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-CECIL-KENT MD-QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT- CAROLINE-WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-SALEM-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND- ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-COASTAL ATLANTIC- COASTAL OCEAN-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON- 330 AM EDT FRI JUL 23 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL DELAWARE...SOUTHERN DELAWARE...NORTHEAST MARYLAND...CENTRAL NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. IT WILL BE HOTTER AND MORE HUMID TODAY. HEAT INDEX VALUES MAY REACH NEAR OR JUST OVER 100 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON OVER SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN DELAWARE AND PORTIONS OF THE NORTHEAST MARYLAND SHORE AWAY FROM THE OCEAN AND BAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. HEAT INDEX VALUES MAY REACH AROUND 105 DEGREES SATURDAY AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ430-431-450>455-240730- DELAWARE BAY WATERS NORTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE- DELAWARE BAY WATERS SOUTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE- COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK TO MANASQUAN INLET NJ OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM MANASQUAN INLET TO LITTLE EGG INLET NJ OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM LITTLE EGG INLET TO GREAT EGG INLET NJ OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM GREAT EGG INLET TO CAPE MAY NJ OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE MAY NJ TO CAPE HENLOPEN DE OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE HENLOPEN TO FENWICK ISLAND DE OUT 20 NM- 330 AM EDT FRI JUL 23 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS AND DELAWARE BAY WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
6 excessive heat. Local standard time, as filed.
Excessive Heat, Chester
- When
- July 23, 9:00 AM EST to July 25, 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- Chester forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
Excessive Heat, Delaware
- When
- July 23, 9:00 AM EST to July 25, 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- Delaware forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 39.917, -75.399 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Excessive Heat, Montgomery
- When
- July 23, 9:00 AM EST to July 25, 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- Montgomery forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
Excessive Heat, Bucks
- When
- July 23, 9:00 AM EST to July 25, 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- Bucks forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- Mesonet
Excessive Heat, Philadelphia
- When
- July 23, 9:00 AM EST to July 25, 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- Philadelphia forecast zone
- Deaths
- 3 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 40.008, -75.134 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The people who died
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excessive Heat, Bucks | 2010-07-24 | 20 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Excessive Heat, Philadelphia | 2010-07-24 | 90 | Female | Permanent Home | Direct |
| Excessive Heat, Philadelphia | 2010-07-24 | 56 | Male | Permanent Home | Direct |
| Excessive Heat, Philadelphia | 2010-07-25 | 66 | Female | Permanent Home | Direct |
What these are
- Excessive Heat
- Heat at or above the local excessive heat warning criteria, or heat that caused deaths.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Illinois, July 23 to 24, 2010
- Heat in Georgia, July 23 to 24, 2010
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, July 23, 2010
- Flooding in Iowa, July 23 to 29, 2010
- Flood in Iowa, July 23 to 25, 2010
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Iowa, July 23 to 24, 2010
- Flood in Alaska, July 23 to 24, 2010
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in South Dakota, July 23, 2010
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Iowa, July 23, 2010
- Flash Flood and Flood in Wisconsin, July 23 to 24, 2010
- Flooding and Damaging Winds in Iowa, July 23 to 24, 2010
- Flood in Iowa, July 23 to 26, 2010
More
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, July 2010
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 253451, 253452, 253453, 253454, 253455, 253457.