As summer officially arrives, high temperatures come to Pittsburgh
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Cooper Courson, 7, winds up to throw a snowball into the Ohio River. He was among the kids participating in the annual Snowball Day at the Carnegie Science Center on the North Shore. -
Jasmine Rosak, 10, of Glassport, cools off in the fountain near the Frick Fine Arts Center in Schenley Park. -
Cory Thurston, 8, carries the six snowballs he saved in the freezer from last winter.
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Temperatures will continue to be sweltering as summer officially arrives today.
The National Weather Service predicts a high of 91 today and 89 tomorrow. Relatively low humidity means the heat index will peak just two degrees higher, at 93, according to the weather service.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has declared an air quality action day. The orange alert means that young children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems should limit outdoor activity. Ground-level ozone forms when extreme heat traps pollution low to the ground.
The DEP encourages people to limit pollution by using mass transit, turning off unnecessary lights and using dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads.
PG VIDEODuquesne Light Co. said there is plenty of supply to handle the extra power used because of the heat, but certain transformers can be overloaded during the peak usage time of 4 to 8 p.m.
"People can help us and themselves by waiting until after 8 p.m. to do things such as laundry and running dishwashers," company spokesman Joey Vallarian wrote in an email. "This helps the loading on transformers, but also helps them save money because these appliances can create heat in a house, thereby making the air conditioner work that much harder."
The Homewood, Greenfield, Mount Washington and Sheraden senior centers will again be open late to 7 p.m. today and Thursday for seniors to cool off.
The swimming pools in Brookline and Perry North, however, remain closed.
Moore Park pool in Brookline and Riverview Pool in Perry North didn't open Thursday with 16 other Citiparks pools.
Unexpected problems delayed the opening of the Moore Park and Riverview pools, Citiparks Director Michael Radley said.
The 73-year-old concrete at Moore crumbled when workers began to install a new liner and repairs had to be made, Mr. Radley said, estimating that the pool now will open in early to mid-July.
Workers also were putting a new liner at Riverview pool when an arson damaged construction materials, the pool and the pool deck. After the damage was repaired, he said, officials discovered a leak that hasn't yet been fixed.
He said he didn't know when the pool might open.
Until Moore and Riverview open, Mr. Radley said, residents should use the city's other 16 pools and the spray parks in Beechview and Troy Hill. He said residents also may use a pair of 8-foot sprinklers still operating at the Moore site.
First Published June 20, 2012 8:32 am
