Cooling centers open as North State prepares for a heat wave along Interstate 5 corridor

Jessica Skropanic, Redding Record Searchlight
Updated ·6 min read
15

Even the most acclimated North State resident might find it too hot to play outdoors this week when a blistering heat wave pushes temperatures well above normal for mid-July.

Still, as temperatures are expected to climb to 114 degrees, people who venture outdoors can protect themselves and their animals from heat-related illnesses and dangerous cold water from snow melt.

Update: In response to heat warnings from the National Weather Service, Shasta County Public Health announced it will open emergency cooling centers this weekend. Scroll down for a list of places to go and their open hours.

Starting Thursday night into early Friday, a heat wave will build over the North State, pushing ground temperatures to around 110 degrees on Friday, said meteorologist Sara Purdue at the National Weather Service’s Sacramento branch. Temperatures could reach 114 degrees on Saturday and 113 degrees on Sunday, she said.

Temperatures will likely soar above 110 degrees on Saturday and Sunday in much of the North State, according to the National Weather Service. Red areas illustrate places where heat is high enough to pose dangers to people's health.
Temperatures will likely soar above 110 degrees on Saturday and Sunday in much of the North State, according to the National Weather Service. Red areas illustrate places where heat is high enough to pose dangers to people's health.

Nights will also be warmer than usual, with temperatures dropping into the upper 70s to low 80s in the valley around Redding and into the high 60s in the upper foothills, according to the weather service.

Redding temperatures should cool slightly to no more than 108 degrees by Monday, Purdue said.

What’s causing the heat wave

High-pressure air is rotating counterclockwise over Northern California, pulling dry heat from Nevada and eastern California into the valley along the Interstate 5 corridor, Purdue said.

Heat builds up in Redding because the mountains make a three-sided pocket that contains the hot air. That — and not having the Delta breeze to cool things off — is why Redding at the north end of the valley is hotter than Sacramento and the south end, she said.

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Low pressure air usually spins clockwise, in the opposite direction, and pulls cooler air from the coast. Unfortunately, none of that is in the forecast, Purdue said.

Keep people, animals safe from heat, wildfire

Extreme heat will dry out vegetation, raising fire risk throughout the North State, according to the weather service. People should be extremely careful not to spark fires.

Temperatures will also be hot enough to cause heat-related illnesses ― even in the healthiest people, pets and livestock, according to the weather service and Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency. Staying outdoors in the heat too long, or in direct sun, can cause heat stroke and other health problems. People should limit the time they spent outdoors and only go out, or take out their pets, in the cooler mornings or late evenings.

For tips on staying healthy during hot weather, go to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.

For tips on keeping pets safe, go to the ASPCA’s website at https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/keep-pets-safe-heat.

For detailed tips on caring for livestock in extreme heat, go to Victoria, Australia's agricultural department website at tinyurl.com/bdfkbxhj.

Watch for fire, cold water dangers

Since June, officials from North State parks and the U.S. Forest Service have posted social media warnings about melting water and fire risk that ask people to be very careful not to spark wildfires and be careful in the water.

Those risks will be greater during the heat wave, as valley air dries out and high temperatures swiftly melt mountain snow, sending water cold enough to cause hypothermia into lakes and rivers, Purdue said. People seeking relief from the heat in North State waters should check first for fast moving and very cold water, she cautioned.

Super-cold water can drain body heat up to four times faster than cold air, according to the weather service’s Cold Water and Hazards Safety website. “When your body hits cold water, cold shock can cause dramatic changes in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. The sudden gasp and rapid breathing alone creates a greater risk of drowning.”

Boaters and swimmers should always wear a life jacket, National Park and U.S. Forest Service officials said.

With risk of wildfires, campers should keep equipment to extinguish fires close to their campfires and never leave them unattended, Forest Service officials said. Only start campfires where parks permit them, and observe all fire safety rules.

If you see a wildfire, call 911, park and forest officials said.

UPDATE: Where to cool off in town

There are places people with no air conditioning or swamp coolers can go to cool off during the worst of the heat, according to the county.

Shasta County Public Health announced it will open two cooling centers during the heat wave this weekend:

  • St. James Lutheran Church at 2500 Shasta View Drive in Redding is open from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

  • The Shasta Lake Visitor Center at 1525 Median Ave. is open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

People can also cool down in air-conditioned public places including the Mt. Shasta Mall in Redding and libraries and community and senior centers, according to Shasta County Public Health. Here are open hours for libraries and the senior center.

  • The Anderson Public Library at 3200 W Center St. is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

  • The Burney Public Library at 37116 Main St. is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. While Burney doesn't usually get as hot as the valley, it’s a public cooling center for those without air conditioning.

  • The Cottonwood Community Library at 3427 Main St. is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

  • The Redding Public Library at 1100 Parkview Ave. is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

  • For seniors only, the Frontier Senior Center at 2081 Frontier Trail in Anderson is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

County policy is to "consider" opening cooling centers only if one or more of three conditions are met: Daytime temperatures reach at least 110 degrees during the day and stay over 80 degrees at night for two consecutive days; healthcare providers report an uptick in heat-related illnesses, emergencies or deaths; and/or there’s a power outage while the temperature is above 105 degrees. According to its website, the county will update cooling center openings at shastacounty.gov/health-human-services/page/cooling-centers-heat-safety.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Cooling centers open before Redding temperatures soar to 114 degrees