Cooling Centers To Open Ahead Of Heat Wave In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Cooling centers will open to help Alexandria residents beat the heat from July 18 to 21 in response to an excessive heat forecast. There will be precautions in place to account for the pandemic.

Residents, especially those with underlying health conditions, are urged to plan ahead for the extreme heat event. Prolonged exposure to the high temperatures and humidity can cause heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion or cramps — and heat stroke in severe cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a list of symptoms to watch for and what to do in situations of heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps.

City officials encourage residents to stay inside during heat waves, limit exposure to the sun, drink plenty of water and wear loose, lightweight and light-colored clothing. Residents should also check on neighbors who are vulnerable or without air conditioning.

The city's cooling centers will include screening questions for COVID-19 and a temperature check. City staff and visitors are required to wear face masks at the cooling centers, maintain six feet of distance from others, and wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently. The facilities will have enhanced cleaning.

Here are the times and locations of cooling centers:

Saturday, July 18

• Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center (25 West Reed Avenue), 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Mount Vernon Recreation Center (2701 Commonwealth Avenue), 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street), 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Avenue), 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• William Ramsay Recreation Center (5650 Sanger Avenue), 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 North Union Street), 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday, July 19

• William Ramsay Recreation Center (5650 Sanger Avenue), 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street), 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 North Union Street), 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Monday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 21

• Oswald Durant Center (1605 Cameron Street), 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• T.C. Williams High School Minnie Howard Campus (3801 West Braddock Road), 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

The extreme heat wave is expected to impact the Mid-Atlantic region starting this weekend, according to the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang. Forecasters expect temperatures in the 90s and 100s and heat indexes up to 110 degrees. That's accompanied by tropical-like humidity" which the forecasters say "poses health risks to anyone without access to cooling, especially vulnerable populations such as those with preexisting medical conditions and the elderly."

Here is the National Weather Service weather outlook for the next week in Alexandria:

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 96. The night is mostly clear with a low of 75.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent. The night will be partly cloudy with a low of 78.

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms with a 30 percent chance of precipitation. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 100 and low of 78.

Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98. A chance of showers at night, and Partly cloudy with a low around 77. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent during the day and 30 percent at night.

Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. A chance of showers at night with a low of 76. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent during the day and 30 percent at night.

Thursday: Showers likely and a potential thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.