Record-Breaking Heat Bakes Mon-Yough Area

Older residents at risk; McKeesport, White Oak, other communities open cooling centers

By Jason Togyer
The Tube City Almanac
June 19, 2024
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

(Tube City Almanac photo)

Related: Local doctor offers tips for staying healthy in extreme heat

The last time the Mon-Yough area had a stretch of heat like this was ... never.

Nevermind (if you can) the high temperatures near 100 degrees every day this week. The National Weather Service in Moon Twp. said Tuesday that low temperatures are expected to remain above 70 degrees through Sunday.

NWS forecasters said that in 154 years of record-keeping, Pittsburgh has never had a six-day or more stretch of low temperatures above 70 in the month of June. The last time it happened at all was in July 2011.

An excessive heat warning is in effect for the entire region through 8 p.m. Saturday. In a prepared statement, the NWS said “prolonged dangerous hot conditions” are likely, with heat indexes — the way the temperature feels, when combined with humidity — ranging from 105 to 110 degrees each day.

Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events, the weather service said, cautioning residents to “drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.”

Young children and pets should not be left in unattended vehicles, which can reach “lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes,” the forecasting service said.

According to a 1994 report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, a heat wave in June and July of that year in Pennsylvania contributed to at least 118 deaths in Philadelphia in a single week.

Many of the victims were older or had underlying health conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. In one case, a 33-year-old man collapsed and died on a Philadelphia street with a body temperature of 108 degrees; 98.6 degrees is considered normal.

The report concluded that access to air conditioning — even during a small portion of the day — prevented deaths in many cases.

The same study concluded that in some cases, fans did more harm than good, and could contribute to heat-related health problems, especially when the air temperature was above 90 degrees with humidity levels above 35 percent.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh studied a heat wave in Allegheny County during the summer of 1988. They concluded that at least 107 people — most of them age 65 or older — died due to heat-related illnesses during a 15-day stretch when high temperatures were above 90 every day.

With many older homes in the Mon-Yough area lacking air conditioning, many municipalities are opening cooling centers for residents to escape the heat temporarily.

McKeesport has opened the Palisades Ballroom from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. today. The Renziehausen Park senior center will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

In White Oak, cooling centers are located at

• Sampson’s Mills Presbyterian Church, 1665 Lincoln Way, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Thursday;
• Mary, Mother of God Parish (St. Angela Church) 1640 Fawcett Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Friday; and
• Municipal Building, 2280 Lincoln Way, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., through Friday.

Clairton is opening city council chambers from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. through Sunday, when the heat is expected to break.

Elizabeth Twp., Municipal Building, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

Liberty Borough, Volunteer Fire Department, 900 Haslage St., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today.

Turtle Creek, Municipal Building, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Friday.

West Mifflin: Homeville Volunteer Fire Co., 3900 Greensprings Ave.; Duquesne Annex Volunteer Fire Co., 1620 Pennsylvania Ave.; No. 3 Volunteer Fire Company, 3722 Rodeo Drive; Skyview Volunteer Fire Co., 660 Noble Dr. Call (412) 461-3125 for access, per Facebook post.

Originally published June 19, 2024.

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