What may end up being this year’s hottest heat wave is coming to an end.
Record breaking temperatures this past weekend spiked at 100 degrees all over the state, including Georgetown, which National Weather Service Meteorologist Jonathan O’Brien says broke the record for the city’s highest temperature.
And this was not the only record broken.
“They set a couple of records over the weekend for their warmest low temperature, so their warmest overnight lows, and actually on Sunday, yesterday, did not get below 80 at Georgetown which broke the record for that day’s warmest overnight low temperature,” said O’Brien.
And the heat took its toll. 56 Delawareans were treated by EMS for heat exhaustion or heat stroke and there were 74 emergency department visits statewide due to heat-related illness between July 17 and July 21, according to the state Division of Public Health.
Several Delaware state parks and programs were also shut down due to the heat, including Fort Delaware, UD’s farmers market and all races at Dover International Speedway.
O’Brien says three days of temperatures in the mid to upper 90’s generally constitutes a heat wave, he adds this particular heat wave was “impressive” because of the wide area it covered.
He also says temperatures like these are not uncommon for the First State, and there may be more to come.
“We certainly aren't done with 90’s and probably not done with mid and upper 90’s either,” he said. “It’ll eventually build back in as we get later ito this month and into August. So we’ve got several weeks to go of summer heat. But it’s possible that this could've been the biggest heat wave of the season.”
Temperatures starting Tuesday are expected to drop in to the 80’s for afternoon highs.
