927 WWUS71 KPHI 011449 NPWPHI URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 1049 AM EDT MON JUL 1 2002 ...AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY FOR THE PHILADELPHIA METROPOLITAN AREA... DEZ001-NJZ015-017>019-PAZ067>071-012100- BUCKS PA-CAMDEN NJ-CHESTER PA-DELAWARE PA-GLOUCESTER NJ-MERCER NJ- MONTGOMERY PA-NEW CASTLE DE-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON NJ- PHILADELPHIA PA- ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH FOR TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... TEMPERATURES WILL BE GETTING HOTTER THIS WEEK AS SOME OF THE HOT AND HUMID AIRMASS OVER THE PLAINS STATES MOVE EAST. TEMPERATURES TODAY WILL PEAK CLOSE TO 90...THEN TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY THE TEMPERATURE WILL SOAR WELL INTO THE 90S. THE COMBINATION OF THE TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY WILL CAUSE THE HEAT INDEX TO REACH 100 TO 105 ON TUESDAY AND AROUND 105 ON WEDNESDAY. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR RELIEF FROM THE HEAT...THE COASTAL AREAS SHOULD GET HOT TUESDAY BEFORE A SEABREEZE DEVELOPS IN THE AFTERNOON AND COOLS THEM OFF. ON WEDNESDAY...THE COAST SHOULD ALSO BE HOT. ANY SEABREEZE THAT FORMS SHOULD NOT PROGRESS VERY FAR INLAND. A HEAT WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN HIGH HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO COMBINE WITH HOT TEMPERATURES TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE IT IS 100 DEGREES IN URBAN AREAS AND 105 DEGREES OR GREATER ELSEWHERE FOR MORE THAN ONE DAY. CHILDREN...THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC AILMENTS ARE USUALLY THE FIRST TO SUFFER FROM THE HEAT. HEAT EXHAUSTION...CRAMPS...OR IN EXTREME CASES HEAT STROKE CAN RESULT FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THESE CONDITIONS. FRIENDS...RELATIVES...OR NEIGHBORS SHOULD CHECK ON PEOPLE WHO MAY BE AT RISK. PETS ARE ALSO QUITE VULNERABLE TO THE HEAT. BE SURE THAT YOUR PETS HAVE...AT A MINIMUM...PLENTY OF COOL WATER AND ACCESS TO SHADED AND WELL VENTILATED AREAS. THE SAFEST AND MOST HUMANE ACTION IS TO TAKE THEM INTO AN AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT. HERE ARE SOME HOT WEATHER SAFETY RULES... - MAKE SURE THAT YOUR HOME OR WORKPLACE IS PROPERLY VENTILATED - USE FANS FOR COOLING IF AIR CONDITIONING IS NOT AVAILABLE - WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT AND LIGHT-COLORED CLOTHING - STAY IN THE SHADE - AVOID STRENUOUS ACTIVITY DURING HT HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY - BE AWARE OF THE SIGNS OF AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HEAT EXHAUSTION AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY HEAT STROKE STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATIONS...OR YOUR CABLE TELEVISION OUTLET FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/PHI IN SMALL LETTERS. $$ MPD