Hottest July ever in Philly

As referenced, this month has been in a heated statistical battle with July 2010, with the latter holding a slight edge in terms of temperature.

But that's about to change. Last year July ended moderately, and the average temperature for the month finished at 81.7, No. 2 on the 137-year list in Philadelphia.

This one is going to go out steaming, with temperatures heading back into the mid-90s Friday.

Based on the hot days and oppressive nights in the extended outlook, July 2011 would finish with an average temperature of 82.4, edging out the 82.1 of 1994.

One thing is certain, July 2011 is going to outrank last July for discomfort, and, tragically, for heat deaths.

Philadelphia reported five heat-related deaths all of last summer. It has reported 15 so far just for the most-recent heat wave, the fifth of the season.

Laurence Kalkstein, a heat-mortality expert now with the University of Miami, who helped the city develop its hot-weather warning system, is sure that number is way underdone.

Typically, he said the deaths are double what is reported. It's not that the Medical Examiner's Office is doing anything wrong. It's just not possible to get to the all the bodies.

As for last week, when the heat index zoomed to 119 on Friday, the air mass was "plus, plus" bad.

This week's heat isn't going to be pleasant, he said, but it shouldn't be quite that extreme.