Sweating our way into the record books

Bob Shamble learned something invaluable during the weekend about his air-conditioning system.

"It works," he said this morning while visiting the prematurely summery and positively splendid Logan Square fountain with his daughter. "We found that out."

Evidently, tens of thousands of the region's residents made a similar reassuring discovery as summery heat smashed a record while taking aim at another.

PECO Energy reported that electricity use was up about 20 percent yesterday, compared with a normal April Sunday, a sure sign that air-conditioners were cranking up ahead of their times. And spokesman Ben Armstrong said that energy use today could hit an all-time April record.

By lunchtime, the official temperature at Philadelphia International Airport had reached 85 on its way to a forecast high of 90.

If that works out, it would be the third consecutive day that the mercuy reached 90 - the official government criterion for a "heat wave."

For those keeping score, that's about 25 degrees above normal for an April 27, and it isn't over yet.

"I wouldn't be surpised if it hit 90 tomorrow," said Tony Gigi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.

If that happened, it would tie the record for the most consecutive 90-plus days in April, set during a hot spell in 1976 that makes this one seem like a day at the beach.

This morning, with temperatures in the 60s, it actually was quite comfortable. "Enjoy it now," said Shamble, of Fairmount, as he sat with his school-bound daughter Eleanor. "It's going to get hot in a few hours."

Nearby, a Fairmount Park staffer swept up the detritus of a summer-like weekend that saw a daily temperature record fall on Sunday, when it hit 93.

Given how packed the Shore was, it's hard to believe all that many people stayed in town.

"It was incredible for this time of year," said Diane Wiland, director of the Cape May County Department of Tourism. "There was still a crowd on the Wildwood boardwalk at 5, and it was supposed to close at 5. Ocean City, the same thing. It was little bump for us."

The Golden Inn, in Avalon, was 100 percent occupied, unusual for April, said general manager Kevin Sterling.

Back on the mainland, the heat interrupted what had been a sweater-worthy, damp April. Close to 4 inches of rain has fallen this month, about an inch above normal.

Typically, wet ground repels heat because it forces the sun to use energy to evaporate water. However, the relatively shade-less trees evidently allowed the sun to do some of its best work, said Bob Stauber, another Mount Holly meteorologist.

The heat agent is an area of high pressure off the Atlantic Coast, a so-called Bermuda high. Winds circulate clockwise around high centers, so Philadelphia is getting warm winds from the south.

If it does hit 90 today, it would be the fourth April heat wave since officials began keeping records in 1874.

The first one occurred from April 17 to 20, 1976, and was more-extreme than this one. It reached 94 on the 18th, 88 the day before the heat wave, and 89 the day after.

And it could be a good night for hitters at the Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies host the Washington Nationals. Since warm air rises, heat gives fly balls a lift, weather experts tell us.

Plus, the winds tonight will be blowing straight out to center, thanks to that Bermuda high.

Contact Anthony R. Wood at 610-313-8210 or twood@phillynews.com