PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 14 (UPI) — A third person has died in the heat wave that has scorched the Philadelphia metro area, the city’s Health Department confirmed Sunday.
The agency said an unidentified 59-year-old man from North Philadelphia had diabetes and congestive heart failure.
On Saturday, the deaths of a 67-year-old woman from Brewerytown and an 82-year-old woman from Port Richmond died as a result of the heat. Both women also had preexisting medical conditions.
In all, seven heat-related deaths have been reported this summer.
The city, along with the National Weather Service, extended its heat warning through Sunday evening.
Weather Underground’s forecast in Philadelphia was 95 degrees on Sunday, 94 on Monday and 93 on Tuesday. Saturday’s high was 97 degrees with maximum humidity at 85 percent. The record high for the date 99 degrees in 2002.
Hot temperatures and elevated humidity levels have combined to send the heat index into the danger zone throughout the Northeast.
Weather Underground forecasts the hot weather will continue into Monday from parts of southern New England southward into the mid-Atlantic. By Tuesday, much of the worst heat will have subsided.
On Saturday, Washington, D.C., tied a daily record high by reaching 101 degrees — the first 100-degree day there since July of 2012. The heat index reached 114 degrees during the afternoon.
New York City saw a maximum heat index of about 110 degrees Saturday and actual high for the day was 96 degrees. Boston reached 93 degrees and a maximum heat index of 100.
