Heat Forces Schools in East to Let Out Early
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Sweltering schools let out early in six Eastern states and Washington, D.C., on Friday as a lingering heat wave drove up the sales of ice and portable fans.
Schools without air conditioning dismissed thousands of pupils early in parts of New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.
“Many of the kids are tired--a lot of them don’t have air conditioning at home,” said Principal Norman Spencer of Benjamin Franklin High School in Philadelphia, where students were sent home at midday.
The heat broke records in parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania and soared to 99 degrees in the nation’s capital--the warmest May day on record there.
In Philadelphia, the high of 97 degrees tied the record for the month, set on Thursday. It was also the seventh day of 90-plus temperatures in the state.
The heat had people shopping to prepare for summer about a month early. Big sellers were ice, bottled water, portable fans and coolers, officials said.
Forecasters predicted possible cooling over the weekend.
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