Phillies fans find brief reprieve from excessive heat at Citizens Bank Park

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The excessive heat warning in the Philadelphia area brought on by the week’s heat wave has expired, but high temperatures as the sun went down didn’t stop Phillies fans from packing Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday.

Bucket hats, visors and of course baseball caps were abundant. Before heading into the stadium, a lot of fans tried to stay in the shade, chugging bottles of water.

“It’s hot. Very hot. Uncomfortably hot,” said Adam Johnston from New Jersey. “Gotta support the hometown team,” he said. “Sit in the shade, hydrate.”

He said his seats were in direct sun, so he came ready with long sleeves and a hat to give himself a little protection.

Jaime and Mike Aitkens from the Harrisburg area came prepared with a misting fan.

“Hopefully the Phillies are as hot as the temperature is,” said Jaime.

“We always try to sit in the shade,” said Mike. “My season tickets are in the shade when we come on Sundays. You got to plan ahead.”

A breeze on Wednesday helped cool things off after a sweltering week. But the high temps and humidity on Tuesday didn’t stop David Lunning from West Chester from cheering on his Phils.

“I came down last night. Last night was unbearable,” Lunnings said. “Today is actually a beautiful day. It’s breezy. It’s nicer than yesterday.”

Phillie fan Mary Agnes Haman took notice of Wednesday’s slightly cooler weather.

“It’s not nearly as bad as I thought. I brought my little fan and, once the game starts, you don’t think about it anyway,” she said.

Her daughter, Ciara, agreed.

“I feel like, when you’re here and you’re celebrating with friends — you’re tailgating, you’re watching the game — you don’t even feel it. Temperature doesn’t matter. It’s just whether you bring a hat or not.”

But a Philadelphia summer never lets you get too comfortable. The temperature is expected to soar again next week, health officials are emphasizing the importance of taking extra precautions: wearing light and loose-fitting clothes, staying out of the sun, above all else, staying hydrated.