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Summer 2020 is tracking to be the hottest on record in Central Pa.

Since June 1st, much of the region has experienced 35 days of temperatures at or above 90 degrees.

  • Craig Rhodes
A bicyclist and pedestrians travel next to the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg on Aug. 19, 2019.

 Ian Sterling for WITF

A bicyclist and pedestrians travel next to the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg on Aug. 19, 2019.

(State College) — The midstate is on track for its hottest summer on record.

Meteorologist Steve Travis of the National Weather Service in State College said since June 1st, much of the region has experienced 35 days of temperatures at or above 90 degrees.

“What we’ve seen is a lot of intense heat over the summer, not only in the Harrisburg area, but across much of the state,” he said. “Not only during the day, but also at night. There’s been a lot of very warm nights, too.”

Spraygrounds in Philadelphia opened Monday, and kids at Mander playground were among the first to enjoy the streams.

Kimberly Paynter / WHYY

Kids at Mander playground in Philadelphia enjoy the spray area on a hot summer day.

July was the warmest month on record with August just behind it.

Travis said as a result, the midstate is on track for the hottest summer on record — breaking the old mark set in 1966.

“We haven’t seen a lot of days that had record-high temperature, specifically for any one day. But when you average out all these temperatures, we’re getting this record heat,” he said. “Which kind of shows us that this has been a very prolonged, hot summer.”

Travis added the hot, dry weather has also created drought conditions in many counties — especially areas west of the Susquehanna River.

 

 

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