Philadelphia declared a Heat Health Emergency on June 19, 2026, as the Juneteenth heat wave — which has placed approximately 80 million Americans under some form of heat advisory — brought heat index values forecast to reach 103°F and potentially exceed 100°F in the city.
The declaration — issued by Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson — activates a comprehensive set of city services designed specifically to reach those most at risk from heat illness and death: elderly residents living alone without air conditioning, people experiencing homelessness, outdoor workers, and residents with medical conditions that impair heat tolerance. "The Health Department declares a Heat Health Emergency when the temperature gets high enough that vulnerable people — especially our elderly neighbors and family members — are at an increased risk of getting sick or dying from the heat," Commissioner Raval-Nelson said.
