Heat wave forecast: four days in the furnace
Betsy West of Washington buys a shaved ice from Mike Becker at the Main Street Farmers Market in Washington on Thursday.
Bill Jenkins with All-American Catering of Canton Township cooks on the grill in extreme heat during the Washington County Farmers Market Thursday.
It could be the longest, hottest, most humid stretch of weather yet this summer as heat indexes in the upper 90s are forecast through Sunday.
No individual day is expected to break temperature records, but the four-day heat wave is slated to hover around an average of 55 percent humidity with base temperature forecasts of 92, 93, 92 and 88 degrees Friday through Monday, according to Accuweather and National Weather Service reports.
“There’s also a 40 percent chance of showers (today), and the chance for showers Sunday evening,” said Pittsburgh National Weather Service meteorologist Lee Hendricks, “and the evening temperatures are only dropping down to the 70s. That, coupled with 53 to 64 percent humidity, and it’s going to be very sticky.”
The hottest and longest stretch of days on record for the region came in 1988, according to weather service records, as temperatures hovered around 90 degrees Fahrenheit from July 3 to 19. The present four-day stretch of heat and humidity is the longest in the past three summers, according to Hendricks.
“We do get a break, a mellowing out on Tuesday. Then, we’ll have partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-80s,” Hendricks said.
Workers outside are going to have to make the best of it.
Bill Jenkins of Canton Township has set up his mobile All-American Catering barbecue booth on East Wheeling Street in Washington and plans to sell ribs and pork sandwiches today despite the heat.
“Got to keep drinking water. That’s all you can do when you’re grilling and can’t take a break. There have been times I’ve set up without shade covering us, and I regretted it,” Jenkins said.
Hendricks echoed the advice of doctors, advising the very young and old should not spend extended periods of time outside. He said those with respiratory problems would benefit from a stay or breaks in air-conditioned rooms.
“If you have to go outside, wear light-colored clothing. Drink a lot more fluids than you really want to drink. That goes for pets, too. Keep them in shade and make sure they have an adequate water supply,” Hendricks said, “and despite the heat, it’s going to be ‘nice’ weather with lots of sun. So for those picnics, if you’re drinking alcohol, minimize it – it dehydrates you and you won’t realize how hot you’re getting.”
Pools will be a popular destination. Canonsburg Park Pool reported 400 people attended Thursday, and they are expecting close to 500 people each day Friday through Sunday.
“Usually, July 4 is our big day since it’s free, but we only had 250 because it was raining all day,” said pool manager Jim Reynolds. “But this summer has been hot. As of Thursday, we’ve had all of last year’s attendance. We average 350 people in here on a hot day.”