Looming heat, fireworks could worsen fire fears

The pleasant weather Wednesday and Thursday comes with warnings.

Wildfires are a worry throughout the entire region - Eastern Pennsylvania, Northern Delaware and all of New Jersey - following a hot June with little recent rain, according to the National Weather Service.

Last week, several forest fires burned about 1,300 acres in the New Jersey Pinelands.

With no rain expected through next Wednesday, the threat could even worsen, with peak fireworks season kicking in as the heat returns.

By Sunday, the region should be back to sheltering from sweltering.

The high Thursday and Friday should be in the low 80s - a little below the 84 that's normal for early July.

Then the weekend starts with an 88 on Saturday, followed by another projected heat wave: 94 on Sunday, 96 on July Fourth, 95 on Monday, and 92 on Tuesday.

No records are in jeopardy, though. They range from 104 on July 3 to 98 on the July 6.

In June, the temperature was 90 or above on 15 different days.

For more on the forecast, go to http://go.philly.com/weather.