Three heat-related deaths reported in Philly

No identities and few details were available Monday afternoon, but the Philadelphia Health Department spokesman Jeff Moran said three deaths were attributed to the season's first heat wave, which broke on Sunday.

Moran identified them onl as a 77-year-old man in North Philadelphia, a 71-year-old woman in Burholme/Fox Chase, and a 61-yearold man in Grays Ferry.

Each had "significant" medical issues, he said. All three had high blood pressure; two had diabetes, and one, multiple sclerosis.

By definition, in Phiadelphia a heat-related death is defined as one in which heat was at least a contributing factor; not necessarily the sole cause.

Highs reached the mid-90s last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with Wednesday's 95 recorded officially at Philadelphia International Airport the highest reading of the 2016.

But perhaps of more significance was the fact that temperatures failed get below 73 Tuesday through Saturday.

Health experts have long warned that a lack of overnight cooling can be more insidious than afternoon heat.

When temperatures stay above 70 overnight, that's usually a symptom of high humidity; water vapor in the air retards cooling.

A warm overnight can ripen homes without air-conditioning for rapid daytime heating, turning some rowhomes into brick ovens.

In the past heat-wave fatalities have been concentrated in Philadelphia's rowhouse neighborhoods.

Another heat wave is forecast to take hold by the end of the workweek.