Philly heat wave death toll climbs to 4

Four deaths. Four temperature records. Triple-digit heat indexes. A six-day heat wave. And at least one more day of dangerously brutal heat.

That's some of the toll, and what's yet to come, as Philadelphia remains caught in a scorching heat wave.

A fourth death related to the heat wave was reported Monday, the Health Department said.

The 72-year-old man from West Philadelphia also suffered from diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, officials said. His name was not released.

His death was the eighth heat-related fatality in Philadelphia this year and the fourth from the heat wave, which stretched into its sixth day Monday.

Three people died during the weekend from heat-related complications: a 59-year-old North Philadelphia man, an 82-year-old Port Richmond woman, and a 67-year-old Brewerytown woman.

And the steamy weather is sticking around for at least one more day. A National Weather Service excessive heat warning remains in place until 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Temperatures Tuesday are forecast to reach the mid-90s, and although temperatures will be comparable to Monday's, when the official high in Philadelphia reached 93, it will be more uncomfortable as heat-index values again head into triple digits.

The Philadelphia Corp. for Aging has extended its heat line hours, and will operate from 8:30 a.m. to midnight Monday and from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday. People may call that number (215-765-9040) for heat-related information or help.

The heat has set a number of records in the region.

In Philadelphia, the overnight low temperatures of 81 degrees Friday and 82 degrees Saturday set records as the highest minimum temperatures for those dates.

And Sunday, Atlantic City's high of 98 degrees set the record for Aug. 14, while Wilmington's high of 96 tied the record for the day there.

The recent string of hot days has pushed Philadelphia's count of 90-plus temperatures well above normal.

As of Sunday, the city had recorded 30 days with a high temperature of 90 degrees or higher this summer, according to weather service data. The average for an entire year is 24.

The sultry spell is the product of a classic August Dog Days setup, with high pressure over the western Atlantic Ocean pumping vapor-laden air northward from the tropics. Patterns now tend to persist because at this time of year, the steering currents that drive weather systems slacken.

Relief is coming, but it will arrive gradually, said Carl Erickson, a meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc., the commercial service in State College, Pa.

Wednesday should be more comfortable, and next week, temperatures on some days might not get past the low or mid-80s.