Overview
- The city declared a Heat Health Emergency effective at 11 a.m. Thursday through 8 p.m. Friday and said the order could be extended if conditions worsen.
- Fans packed the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill on opening day, with organizers estimating daily crowds in the thousands and the site set up with large screens, water stations, tents and misting areas.
- City agencies activated dozens of cooling centers, four hospitality hubs on the route from City Hall to Lemon Hill, suspended water shutoffs and opened hotlines to reach older adults and people living outdoors.
- Forecasters from the National Weather Service and the Storm Prediction Center warned of mid‑90s highs with heat indexes near 103–105°F and a chance of strong to possibly severe evening thunderstorms producing damaging winds and heavy downpours.
- Officials urged attendees to use SEPTA or other transit options because of road closures and restricted parking, to follow festival alerts for possible evacuations, and to expect somewhat cooler, drier conditions by the weekend though Sunday still carries a chance of showers.