Excessive heat wave puts Lexington under heat advisory. City activates heat plan.

Christopher Leach
·4 min read
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An excessive heat wave is expected to push temperatures into the 90s in western and Central Kentucky this week.

As a result, the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Anderson, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison, Jessamine, Mercer, Scott, Washington and Woodford counties. The advisory begins at 1 p.m. Monday and was scheduled to last until at least 9 p.m.

All of Western Kentucky is under an excessive heat warning from noon Central Time Monday until 10 p.m. Thursday, according to the NWS. Temperatures are expected to be slightly hotter out west compared to Central Kentucky, with heat index readings ranging from 105 to 120.

The NWS said heat indices will be around 100 in Central Kentucky.

The high temperatures will increase the chances of heat-related illness, especially for the elderly, children, people with chronic illnesses and those who are pregnant, according to the NWS.

People can avoid heat-related illness by staying hydrated, staying in air-conditioned rooms and avoiding long exposure outdoors. If people have to be outdoors, it’s recommended to wear lightweight or light-colored clothing, according to the NWS. People and pets shouldn’t be left alone in closed cars in such high temperatures.

The city of Lexington has activated phase one of its heat plan, and it will stay in effect from Monday to Friday. As part of the plan, the Office of Homeless Prevention will expand cooling shelter services and Lextran will offer free transportation on routes with cooling shelters.

Cooling centers are available at the following locations Monday through Friday:

  • Dunbar Community Center, 545 N. Upper Street: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

  • Tates Creek Golf Course, 1400 Gainesway Drive: 8 a.m. to dark

  • Picadmone Golf Course, 469 Parkway Drive: 8 a.m. to dark

  • Lexington Senior Center, 195 Life Lane: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In addition, Lexington is also stepping up outreach to the city’s unhoused population. Free transportation to shelters and cooling stations is available on Lextran, through the HopeMobile, or the Catholic Action Center’s Compassionate Caravan.

Several homeless service providers are changing their hours over the next week.

Some of those changes include:

  • Lighthouse Ministries, 190 Spruce Street, will remain open between their lunch and dinner meals. Individuals can access the Lighthouse as an additional cooling station between noon and 6 p.m.

  • Arbor Youth Services, 540 W. 3rd Street, is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, for persons ages 18-24.

  • Mountain Comprehensive Care Center, 1060 Goodwin Drive, is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.

  • New Life Day Center, 224 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., is open from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Monday-Friday, and from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

  • New Vista, 201 Mechanic Street, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday

  • Nathanial Mission, 1109 Versailles Road, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday

  • Lexington Rescue Mission, 444 Glen Arvin Ave., is open Monday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

  • Residents only of The Salvation Army, Hope Center, Catholic Action Center, Arbor Youth Services, and GreenHouse17 will have access to those facilities 24 hours a day.