Community Health & Wellness News
Excessive heat warning continues through Tuesday
The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for the region, with temperatures in the 90s expected through Wednesday, Aug. 16.
On Monday, the temperature at Tacoma Narrows Airport topped out at 89.6 degrees. The forecast for Tuesday, Aug. 15, calls for an afternoon high temperature of about 94 degrees.
Cooling centers for people looking to beat the heat are open in the following local locations:
- Chapel Hill Church, 7700 Skansie Ave., from noon to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
- The Tom Taylor YMCA, 10550 Harbor Hill Dr., Tuesday and Wednesday. The Y will waive guest fees for non-members, though non-members will need to sign a waiver and have their identification scanned.
- Waypoint Church, 12719 134th Ave. NW, is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Key Peninsula Civic Center (17010 S. Vaughn R. NW, Vaughn) is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Pierce Transit is providing free rides to cooling centers through Wednesday. For help planning a trip, visit Pierce Transit’s Trip Planner at PierceTransit.org or call the agency at 253-581-8000 (option 2, then option 2 again) between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Find tips on staying safe during hot weather from the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department. A few of them:
- Spend time in air-conditioned places. Visit an air-conditioned mall, movie theater or other cool public place.
- Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Dress in lightweight clothing.
- Check on elderly neighbors and relatives and encourage them to stay cool and drink lots of water regularly.
- Limit the time you spend in direct sunlight.
- Do not leave infants, children, pets or people with limited mobility in a parked car.
The area experienced a similar heat wave in late July 2022, prompting cancelations of events like Summer Sounds at Skansie and the Waterfront Farmers Market. No cancellations have been announced so far this week.