As Temperatures Near 100, Fairfax County Offers Cooling Centers

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — With temperatures expected to get close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit over several days, cooling centers are available to escape the heat in Fairfax County.

Temperatures are projected to be especially high from Thursday into next week. On Thursday, the National Weather Service anticipates a high temperature of 96 in Fairfax with heat index values up to 101. High index values are typically the result of high temperatures combined with humidity.

Fairfax County's libraries, some community centers, some recreation centers and the Fairfax County Government Center serve as cooling centers. Residents should check the community center website and recreation center website and library's website to confirm any changes to hours.

Here are the locations:

• Burke Centre Library: 5935 Freds Oak Rd, Burke, VA 22015
• Centreville Regional Library: 14200 St Germain Dr, Centreville, VA 20121
• Chantilly Regional Library: 4000 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151
• City of Fairfax Regional Library: 10360 North St, Fairfax, VA 22030
• Dolley Madison Library: 1244 Oak Ridge Ave, McLean, VA 22101
• George Mason Regional Library: 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003
• Great Falls Library: 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066
• Herndon Fortnightly Library: 768 Center St, Herndon, VA 20170
• John Marshall Library: 6209 Rose Hill Dr, Alexandria, VA 22310
• Kings Park Library: 9000 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, VA 22015
• Kingstowne Library: 6500 Landsdowne Centre Dr, Alexandria, VA 22315
• Martha Washington Library: 6614 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307
• Oakton Library: 10304 Lynnhaven Pl, Oakton, VA 22124
• Patrick Henry Library: 101 Maple Ave E, Vienna, VA 22180
• Pohick Regional Library: 6450 Sydenstricker Rd, Burke, VA 22015
• Reston Regional Library: 11925 Bowman Towne Dr, Reston, VA 20190
• Richard Byrd Library: 7250 Commerce St, Springfield, VA 22150
• Sherwood Regional Library: 2501 Sherwood Hall Ln, Alexandria, VA 22306
• Thomas Jefferson Library: 7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042
• Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library: 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043
• Woodrow Wilson Library: 6101 Knollwood Dr, Falls Church, VA 22041
• Bailey's Community Center: 5920 Summers Ln, Falls Church, VA 22041
• Gum Springs Community Center: 8100 Fordson Rd, Alexandria, VA 22306
• Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center: 1086 Elden St, Herndon, VA 20170
• James Lee Community Center: 2855 Annandale Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042
• Mott Community Center: 12111 Braddock Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030
• David R. Pinn Community Center: 10225 Zion Dr, Fairfax, VA 22032
• Sacramento Neighborhood Center: 8792 Sacramento Dr # E, Alexandria, VA 22309
• Southgate Community Center: 12125 Pinecrest Rd, Reston, VA 20191
• Willston Multicultural Center: 6131 Willston Dr, Falls Church, VA 22044
• Providence RECenter: 7525 Marc Dr, Falls Church, VA 22042
• Mount Vernon RECenter: 2017 Belle View Blvd, Alexandria, VA 22307
• Fairfax County Government Center: 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax, VA 22035

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.

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 Fairfax, courtesy of the National Weather Service.

Thursday: Mostly sunny with a high near 96 and heat index values up to 101. A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. At night, the low temperature is 72.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 95 and low around 73.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97 and low around 76.

Sunday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 99 and low around 76.