Papal visit: Hot issue

Late September weather nastiness usually is associated with hurricanes and tropical-storm remnants.

But post-season heat has been known to happen, and one this year while Pope Francis is here would be especially disruptive, according to Lt. Danielle Wojnicki of the Philadelphia Fire Department.

This came up during the "Safe Schools Summit" at Neumann University, in Aston Township, Delaware County, at which one of the topics was planning for the papal visit, scheduled for Sept. 26 and 27.

We found some serious post-season in the period of record, which dates to 1874. On Sept. 22 and Sept. 23, 1895, the official high in Philadelphia was 97, and the lows were 77 and 73, respectively, gruesomely uncomfortable in an era before air-conditioning.

In 1970, an all-out heat wave baked from Sept. 22 through the Sept. 26, with highs in the mid-90s in the first three days, and low 90s on the final two. Low temperatures never dropped beneath 70.

Temperatures have reached 90 or better between on Sept. 22 o later in 15 different years, most recently in 2010.

The Fire Department is ready, armed with misting sprays, cooling stations, and one million bottles of water a day available for emergencies, Wojnicki said.

She said that stocks of medication will be on on hand for diabetics and oxygen for patients whose supplies runs low, she said.

And, yes, it has rained on some of those days. In 1882, over 8 inches fell on the 22nd and 23rd.