As Temperatures Near 100 This Week, Alexandria Offers Cooling Centers

ALEXANDRIA, VA — With temperatures expected to get close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, cooling centers are available to escape the heat in Alexandria.

The City of Alexandria said cooling centers are available throughout the summer. Temperatures are projected to be especially high from Thursday into next week. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service anticipates a high temperature of 95 in Alexandria with heat index values up to 100. Thursday's heat index could reach 104 with a high temperature of 97. High index values are typically the result of high temperatures combined with humidity.

Below are the cooling centers and their hours around Alexandria. Residents should check the city's recreation website and library's website to confirm any changes to hours.

• Charles Houston Recreation Center: 901 Wythe St.: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to midnight Friday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center: 25 W. Reed Ave.: Hours vary, see city website
• Lee Center: 1108 Jefferson St.: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday
• Mount Vernon Recreation Center: 2701 Commonwealth Ave.: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday
• Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center: 1108 Jefferson St.: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday
• Patrick Henry Recreation Center: 4653 Taney Ave.: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday
• William Ramsay Recreation Center: 5650 Sanger Ave. Hours vary, see city website
• Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library: 5005 Duke St.: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
• Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library: 717 Queen St.: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
• Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library: 4701 Seminary Road: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
• James M. Duncan Branch Library: 2501 Commonwealth Ave.: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
• Potomac Yard Park Interactive Fountain: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Labor Day weekend and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through approximately mid-October

Prolonged exposure to excessive heat can cause heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion, cramps, or heat stroke. A heat-related illness can result from the body heating too quickly and not being able to properly cool itself or through dehydration or sweating. The city encourages residents to limit exposure to the sun, stay indoors, drink plenty of water, and wear loose, lightweight, and light-colored clothing.

Heat exhaustion can involve symptoms like heavy sweating, weakness or tiredness, cool and clammy ski, fast and weak pulse, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache or fainting. A person experiencing heat exhaustion should be moved to a cooler area and given cool, wet cloths or a cool bath.

Heat stroke is considered more serious and can involve a throbbing headache; confusion; nausea; dizziness; body temperature above 103 degrees; hot, red, dry or damp skin; rapid and strong pulse; or fainting. In this case, call 911 or take the person to a hospital immediately while moving the person to a cooler area and using cool clothes or bath. A person experiencing heat stroke should not be given fluids.

Residents can learn more about heat-related illness symptoms and how to respond from the National Weather Service.

Below is the forecast for the coming days in Alexandria, courtesy of the National Weather Service.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 95 and heat index values as high as 100. At night, temperatures will reach a low of 78.

Thursday: Sunny and hot with a high near 97 and heat index values up to 104. A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. At night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms and a low around 74.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 96 and low around 75.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99 and low near 77.

Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100 and low around 78.