Heat wave and possible Canadian wildfire smoke expected in Lehigh Valley
The National Weather Service warns of upper-90s heat Wednesday with a heat advisory for parts of the Lehigh Valley and the possibility of smoke from Ontario wildfires; some Delaware Valley counties face extreme heat.
Another heat wave and the potential for smoky conditions to develop due to wildfires that are burning in Ontario, Canada, are on the weather menu for the Lehigh Valley this week.
According to National Weather Service forecasters, Wednesday will be the hottest day of the week, with temperatures expected to reach the upper 90s.
The NWS has issued a heat advisory for Lehigh, Northampton and upper Bucks counties for Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., due to the danger the heat and humidity could pose. According to a statement from the NWS office in Mount Holly, N.J., the heat index could reach 104.
Isolated storms are possible north of Philadelphia later in the day Wednesday, and “there is also potential for smoky conditions to develop as Canadian wildfire smoke filters into the region,” the office said in a Facebook post.
Philadelphia, lower Montgomery, lower Bucks and other counties in the Delaware Valley and central New Jersey are under an extreme heat warning Wednesday for temperatures that are forecast to reach the triple digits and heat indexes of up to 108.
Wednesday’s heat will increase the risk for individuals to develop heat-related illnesses including heat stroke, especially if they are spending time recreationally or working outside. Public health and safety officials are recommending that anyone doing so take frequent breaks in air conditioned spaces if possible and try to restrict outdoor activity to the early morning or evening hours.
The heat wave was forecast to begin Tuesday, with highs in the low 90s, and continue Thursday and Friday, when highs in the Allentown area are forecast to reach at least 90 degrees.
Many local residents are expected to seek relief from the heat at public swimming pools and other popular destinations such as water parks.
A Dip-N-Dance with a DJ is scheduled to be held at the Hellertown Pool Thursday afternoon, with two more events to follow this summer.
This week’s heat wave follows one that occurred nearly three weeks ago and another that coincided with the Fourth of July holiday. During that heat wave the temperature reached 101 in Allentown, which was the highest temperature recorded there in approximately 15 years.