A record-breaking amount of summer snowfall was recorded at the Philadelphia International Airport this weekend, despite heatwaves and thunderstorms passing through the city on the same day.
Heatwave Headscratcher
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Weather reports this week have left Philadelphians with a bad case of whiplash after the Pennsylvania city reported snowfall on Sunday despite an ongoing heat wave, high winds, and thunderstorms.
Small Amount of Snowfall Recorded
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The National Weather Service recorded a very small amount of snowfall at the Philadelphia International Airport, which technically broke a record for the most amount of snow ever recorded for July 14 in Philadelphia.
Hail Recorded as Snow
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The ‘snow’ that fell on Sunday was actually hail, but official weather service guidelines record hail, which is frozen precipitation, in the same category as sleet and snow. Therefore, a small amount of hail was observed and recorded as snow traces.
Result of Thunderstorms
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Snow traces are the result of passing thunderstorms that create small blizzards, which in turn generate hail.
Announced on Twitter
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The local National Weather Service, which is based in Mount Holly, New Jersey, made a note of the record-breaking weather phenomenon via X, formerly known as Twitter.
“A Win for #TeamSnow”
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“Here’s a win for #TeamSnow,” the weather service wrote on Monday. “A record snowfall of a trace was set at Philadelphia PA yesterday. This breaks the old record of 0.0 inches set in 1870.”
Breaking a 154-Year-Old Record
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The largest amount of snow recorded on July 14 in Philadelphia prior to Sunday was back in 1870, meaning this small record of hail broke a 154-year-old record for the city.
Various Instances
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However, these two occurrences are hardly the only times that these snow “traces” have been recorded in the area. The city’s last snow trace during the summer months was recorded in August 2011.
14 Times
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When taking Sunday into account, these trace amounts of summer snow have been recorded 14 times at the Philadelphia airport.
Contradictory Weather Reports
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Either way, the announcement was bizarre news for many Philly residents, considering that the city saw temperatures reach highs of 94 degrees on the same day.
Criticisms Roll in
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Not everyone was amused by the NSW’s tongue-in-cheek weather announcement. “Wait, that makes no sense, hail is a warm season event. Has nothing to do with winter,” one wrote.
Skewing the Record Books?
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“This just seems so inaccurate. I feel like this really skews the record books and paints a misleading historical picture of what really occurred,” another user shared.
Maintaining Continuity of the Climate Record
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Jim Zdrojewski, a climate services data program analyst at the NSW defended the report, saying “We’ve recorded it this way for a long, long time so that it maintains the continuity of the climate record.”
Wild Weather
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While the dubious new record was a source of amusement for some and irritation for others, it comes at a time when extreme weather is an increasing cause for concern across the country, including in Pennsylvania.
“Dangerously Hot Conditions”
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The same meteorologists who noted the trace snow over the weekend from Mount Holly, New Jersey, also issued warnings of “dangerously hot conditions” on the same Monday that the record-breaking snow was announced.
Heat Warnings
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Heat indexes for Monday reached as high as 109 degrees Fahrenheit. The NWS released a detailed announcement warning residents and giving advice on how to keep safe during heat waves.
Public Service Announcement
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“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” the NSW warning said. “Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles.”
“Take Extra Precautions When Outside”
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“Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. Take extra precautions when outside,” it continued. “Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
HeatRisk Tool Created
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This summer has brought scorching heat to regions throughout the US, with 2024 being so hot that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had to create the HeatRisk tool, which warns Americans about approaching heat waves in their area, and its potential impacts on the body.
A Deadly Summer
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The tool aims to reduce heat-related illnesses and death. More than 2,300 people died due to excessive heat in the US last year, and higher numbers are expected this summer.
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