It’s Code Orange for Air Quality in Philly Today

Photo | R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia™

September can’t come soon enough.

This August was Philly’s hottest August since 1874, according to the National Weather Service. And it’s ending today with a Code Orange air quality alert and a six-day heat wave. Joy!

So far, this month saw 16 days with temperatures at or above 90 degrees (today will make that 17 days). Normally, August only sees five.

The longest heat wave of the month ran from August 10th to 17th, with the hottest day of the year rising to 98 degrees on the 13th. The average high so far this month is roughly 89 degrees, while the average temperature is 81 degrees — that’s more than four degrees above normal, according to the NWS.

This year also saw the second-hottest June through August period on record. There were three excessive heat waves in July, including one four-day stretch when maximum temperatures reached above 95 degrees. Remember our heat wave drinking game?

This is also the 12th-driest summer on record, according to the NWS.

Alas, it looks like the worst is over. Temperatures are expected to cool down a bit this weekend (thank goodness).

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