Philadelphia projected to reach triple-digit temps for the first time in more than a decade

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Tuesday could be the hottest day of the year in Philadelphia and also the hottest in more than a decade. The thermometer is estimated to reach the triple-digit mark for the first time since 2012.

The projected high of 101 degrees, according to the Accuweather forecast, is just shy of the record of 102 that was set in 1988. The last time a triple-digit temperature was recorded in Philadelphia was on July 18, 2012, according to the National Weather Service .

It’s the melted icing on the cake of what has been a brutal stretch of blistering heat in the region.

“I’m kind of bummed,” said Caitlyn Helsen, of Manayunk. “I usually like to be outside and don’t necessarily avoid it during the summer months. These last couple weeks my body has said, ‘No, you have to be inside. This is not right.’”

City officials urge people to listen to their bodies, as a heat health emergency remains in effect through Wednesday. The health department also reminds people to hydrate, limit strenuous outdoor activities, and check on neighbors, friends, relatives and pets to make sure they are OK.

“We just moved from Texas, so we were used to 100-plus temperatures day after day,” said Mark, a new Manayunk resident, who was walking his dog, Charlie. “We hoped that we would escape it coming up here.”

Cooling centers, pools and spraygrounds are open throughout the city, some with extended hours.

On top of the excessive heat, there is also a Code Orange air quality alert. Sensitive groups, including those with lung issues, may experience health effects because of air pollution.

For a list of city resources, cooling centers and more tips, visit the city’s extreme heat guide here .