Heat wave ends, deaths reach nine

The storm that tore through the Philadelphia area carried drenching rains and gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, causing damage and anxiety.

It ended a heat wave that caused eight deaths in the city and one in the suburbs.

Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office spokesman Jeff Moran says the eight heat-related deaths in the city aren't unusual. He said such deaths are usually discovered on the third or fourth day of a heat wave. In this case, two were discovered yesterday, the third day of the heat wave, and six were discovered today.

Also, the Montgomery County coroner reported that a 65-year-old man died yesterday from sunstroke in Pottstown. There was no drinking water near him.

In Abington today, neighbors described a frightening scene of dark skies, pounding hail and mighty wind.

At peak about 152,000 customers across the region lost electricity, though that had been pared to 56,000 yesterday, according to Peco.

Montgomery County residents made up more than half of that remainder, with an additional 18,000 in Chester County. Peco officials said some customers in the hardest-hit areas may not have power until Friday.

"The damage is very extensive in some spots, and it's just going to take time," said utility spokesman Cameron Kline.

This story contains information from the Associated Press.