The temperature was 85 degrees and climbing in Tamaqua on Tuesday at 1 p.m. as July announced the start of summer in a big way.

The mugginess made the air feel even warmer and there wasn't a pedestrian in sight.Still, the current heat wave won't challenge the hottest Pennsylvania temperature ever recorded, 111 degrees in Phoenixville on July 10, 1936, according to the National Climatic Data Center.Here’s the forecast: Today, a  slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 11 a,m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 9pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 8am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.Thursday Night Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.Things are looking up for the three-day weekend:Independence Day A chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Northwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.Saturday Sunny, with a high near 79.Sunday Sunny, with a high near 83.