So far June has been quite warm, with temperatures averaging over 3 degrees above normal, and this will go down as one of the toastier Junes in the period of record.
Yet in terms of extreme heat, it's been no great shake 'n' bake, and it appears that the month will end with five 90-plus days, which is just about average for a June.
In fact, the month is due to end quite nicely with a few days of seasonal temperatures and comfortable humidities.
July, however, is going to come in like a lion's warm breath, and the National Weather Service says it may have to issue heat advisories sometime between Saturday and Tuesday.
Saturday it could get past 90 in Philadelphia, and perhaps flirt with the mid-90s on the Fourth. Looking ahead, the agricultural forecast service, wxrisk.com, sees the worst of the extreme heat staying south of D.C.
Not that hot July Fourths are unprecented in Philadelphia. It hit 103 on July 4, 1966, and 100 on July 4, 1919.