The National Weather Service has confirmed that this week’s heat wave in California will continue for the rest of the week with “no relief expected.” With temps rising into 90s, it’s essential to make sure you’re prepared to get through these unprecedented March weather conditions.
In response to the heat wave, officials have activated hundreds of cooling centers throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California where you can take refuge in the air conditioning.
L.A. County Cooling Centers
L.A. County has an interactive Cooling Center Map where you can see the cooling centers closest to you. Check their respective listed opening hours before hitting the road. Most of the cooling centers are located within senior centers, recreation centers, and libraries.
While you’ll find over 179 cooling centers available throughout L.A. County, only a few dozen of them are listed as “pet-friendly.” You can search for pet-friendly sites in this PDF version of the L.A. County list.
L.A. City has specified that all L.A. City rec centers are also pet-friendly. They’re currently operating cooling centers at Canoga Park Senior Citizen’s Center, North Hollywood Senior Citizen Center, Pecan Recreation Center, and Algin Sutton Recreation Center. Find out more at the L.A. City Emergency site, which has plenty of resources to help us get through the heat wave.
Staying safe in the heat
The National Weather Service recommends taking the following heat precautions this week:
- Turn blinds upwards/close blinds during the day
- Ensure the ceiling fan direction is counterclockwise
- Open windows at night
- Drink plenty of water or a sports drink
- Do not leave children or pets in unattended vehicles
- Reduce activities outdoors and seek shade
- Wear sunscreen
- Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing
Visit Weather.gov to learn more about heat safety.
