Heat to intensify through week
People without air conditioning and the elderly are among the groups most vulnerable to the heat wave simmering in Butler County this week, according to Pittsburgh-area meteorologist Chris Leonardi.
The heat advisory issued Monday, June 17 by the National Weather Servic warns that high temperatures will intensify through the week, stretching into Saturday and Sunday, Leonardi said.
The hottest day of the week will fall on the summer solstice Thursday, with temperatures reaching 97 degrees, he said. By the weekend, temperatures will slowly fall to the lower 90s, dropping to the 80s on Monday, June 24.
Leonardi said there is a 30-40% chance of Isolated thunderstorms taking place Tuesday , after which drier conditions can be expected as the heat intensifies.
“We’re under a very strong upper-level, high-pressure weather system,” Leonardi said. “It’s one of the stronger ones we’ve seen in quite some time, and it’s expected to expand and get stronger through the week despite rain today.”
The heat wave’s strength and intensity are notable, Leonardi said, this early in the summer.
During this time, he said he encourages residents to check on their elderly neighbors and those without air conditioning, and to keep an eye out for signs of heat exhaustion, which include cold, clammy skin and feeling faint.
