‘Even hotter conditions’ expected this week as region braces for triple-digit temperatures

Original post, July 16:

If you think it feels hot outside now, just wait until tomorrow and the rest of this week. The D.C. area branch of the National Weather Service predicts in the coming days “even hotter conditions” than those seen today, as part of a huge heatwave expected to affect much of the eastern U.S. When accounting for humidity, the heat index could reach “110 degrees or higher Friday and Saturday,” according to the the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang.

“The cause is a massive heat dome that is setting up shop and expanding over the region,” reports the outlet. “While it may not set records for its intensity, it comes during the annual peak in temperatures.” Local officials are advising residents and visitors to take precautions.

On Tuesday, with the heat index hitting 95 degrees, Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a heat emergency and activated the city’s cooling centers. Her office also said the service hours for certain public pools and splash parks as well as all low-barrier homeless shelters would be extended through Sunday. Details, per Bowser’s office, follow after this cooling center map.

“DPR [Department of Parks and Recreation] Pools

Due to the intense heat this week, Mayor Bowser announced that select outdoor pools and splash parks will remain open until 9 p.m. through Sunday, July 21.

Ward 1:

Banneker (2500 Georgia Avenue NW)

Ward 2:

Francis (2435 N Street NW)

Jelleff (3265 S Street NW)

Ward 3:

Friendship Recreation ‘Turtle Park’ Center Splash Park (4500 Van Ness Street NW)

Ward 4:

Upshur (4300 Arkansas Avenue NW)

Ward 5:

Harry Thomas (1743 Lincoln Road NE)

Langdon Park (2860 Mills Avenue NE)

Ward 6:

Rosedale (1701 Gales Street NE)

Ward 7:

Kenilworth (4321 Ord Street NE)

Ward 8:

Fort Stanton (1800 Erie Street SE)

Oxon Run (501 Mississippi Avenue SE)

Cooling Centers:

Cooling Centers are activated in publicly accessible government facilities, homeless shelters, and senior citizen wellness centers, and remain open until 6:00 p.m. or until it has been deemed safe to be outdoors. To request transportation to a cooling center for a resident experiencing homelessness, call the hyperthermia hotline at (202) 399-7093. Residents can find their closest cooling center using the District’s interactive map.

Safety Precautions:

The public can limit heat exposure by:

· Staying indoors

· Drinking plenty of liquids and avoiding drinks with caffeine and alcohol

· Limiting sun exposure, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun is the strongest

· Applying sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outdoors

· Wearing light-colored, lightweight clothing

· Artificial turf fields can get excessively hot, take caution

Low-Barrier Shelters:

Due to high temperatures this week, Mayor Bowser announced that low-barrier shelters will be open 24 hours through Sunday, July 21.

Men

· 801 East Shelter at 801 Making Life Better Lane SE

· New York Avenue Shelter at 1355-57 New York Avenue NE

· Adams Place Men’s Shelter at 2210 Adams Place NE

Women

· Harriet Tubman, D.C. General Building at 1900 Massachusetts Avenue SE

· Patricia Handy Place for Women at 810 5th Street NW

· Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV) at 425 Second Street NW

The Adams Place Day Center also serves as a Cooling Facility for individuals experiencing homelessness. The Adams Place Day Center is accessible from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, and is located at 2210 Adams Place NE (entrance in rear of the building).

Families seeking emergency shelter can call 311 at any time day or night. When the DC Government is open, families may also visit the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center at 920 Rhode Island Avenue, NE, Monday – Thursday, between 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and Friday between 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.”

Update, July 18:

On Thursday, Bowser’s office said the pools listed above will open an hour early, at 10 a.m., on both July 20 and July 21. All other D.C. public pools will operate with their normal hours.