Merced County under heat warning from National Weather Service
The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a moderate heat risk warning for Merced County and other areas in the Central Valley. The warning lasts from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 11 p.m. Thursday.
High temperatures will range from 102 to 108 degrees over those days in some parts of the Central Valley, with overnights low in the mid to upper 70s, NWS said.
The NWS says the high temperature for Merced County on Tuesday and Wednesday is expected to be 103 degrees.
A combination of hot temperatures and high humidity could cause heat-related illnesses, the warning said.
According to Merced County Office of Emergency Services, those especially at risk for heat-related illness are: Those over the age of 65; infants and young children; outdoor workers; athletes; those without effective cooling; and people with chronic medical conditions.
Here are some ways to protect yourself and loved ones from the heat:
- Drink plenty of water
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing
- Limit outdoor activities and seek shade when possible
- If you don’t have air conditioning, use fans to keep air moving and open windows at night when temperatures fall.
The Merced County Office of Emergency Services also advises residents to check on family members, neighbors and friends who may be vulnerable to the heat. Pets are also susceptible to heat-related health issues.
Merced County opened its cooling zones on June 1. Cooling zones provide air-conditioned indoor spaces, free bottled water and places to sit to help residents escape the heat.
The Bus provides free transport to all the cooling zone locations, if within The Bus service area. Paratransit service is available by calling 877-232-7433.
Here’s a list of the cooling zone locations. Check countyofmerced.com for days and times they’re open:
- Atwater Police Department, 750 Bellevue Road
- Atwater Branch Library, 1600 Third St.
- Delhi Branch Library, 16881 W. Schendel Road
- Dos Palos City Hall, 2174 Blossom St.
- Dos Palos Police Department, 1546 Golden Gate Ave.
- Gustine Library Branch, 205 Sixth St.
- Hilmar Library Branch, 2001 W. Falke St.
- Jerry O’Banion Dos Palos Library Branch, 951 Center Ave.
- Le Grand Library Branch, 12949 Le Grand Road
- Livingston Library Branch, 1212 Main St.
- Livingston Police Department, 1446 C St.
- Los Banos Library Branch, 1312 Seventh St.
- Los Banos-Mercy Springs Church of the Nazarene, 1248 Santa Barbara Drive
- Merced Library Branch, 2100 O St.
- Planada Community Center, 9167 Stanford Ave.
- Santa Nella Library Branch, 29188 W. Centinella Ave.
- Snelling Library Branch, 15915 N. Highway 59
