Cooling centers open to the public
As many have probably noticed by now, it is that time of the year again when hot weather is the norm, but Modesto Vasquez said things will start to cool down for a while.
“We are going to start a little bit of a cool trend today,” said Vasquez, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
Vasquez said the hottest it will get today is 99 degrees. For Wednesday, Vasquez said the weather will drop down to 96 degrees, which he said will be the coolest day of the week.
However, things will start heating up again after Fourth of July with Thursday being 98 degrees, Friday 101, and 102 degrees for Saturday and Sunday.
Although Vasquez said the temperatures are a little above normal, he said they are not even close to breaking a record.
“The records are fairly high,” Vasquez said, adding that the record for this time of year is 115 degrees.
Nevertheless, Vasquez said he expects there to be a heat advisory for the San Joaquin Valley in the coming weeks.
“It is going to be hot,” Vasquez said.
As far as nighttime lows, Vasquez said there is a steady trend in the mid-to-low 60s, with Sunday and next Monday starting to get in the high 60s, low 70s.
Cooling centers Although it is not scorching yet, there are several designated cooling centers in the city for residents to utilize to beat the heat while also being productive.
Jose Valdre, a dispatcher at the Porterville Transit Center, said many people are taking advantage of the transit center to stay cool.
“It gets pretty packed in here” Valdre said.
Besides staying cool, Valdre said residents can also utilize the station’s two power outlets to charge up their phones, tablets, laptops or any other electronic device.
“We also have a TV monitor that shows information for the transit, Valdre said.
Another highly sought out cooling center is the Porterville City Library.
Library Supervisor Anthony Arellano said there are a ton of things residents of all ages can do to not only beat the heat, but also stay busy.
In addition to free Wifi, Arellano said residents can use the library’s computer lab, which is equipped with well over a dozen computers. Arellano said residents can also check out a Google Chromebook, a good oldfashioned hardcover, or enroll in a number of different classes such as dance classes, guitar classes, yoga classes and many other fitness and nutritional educational classes.
“There is something for everybody,” Arellano said.
One thing the Porterville City Library and the Porterville Transit Center have in common is that they are both open over the weekend, which can be very helpful for those trying to save money on their air conditioning bill at home.
In addition to its weekday hours, which are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, the library is also open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Porterville Transit Center is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Other designated cooling centers in the city include City Hall, which is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the Heritage Center, which is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The city posted on its website that the public is encouraged to use these City of Porterville facilities during periods of extreme cold or heat. Based on State and County standardized criteria, overnight emergency cooling centers will also be opened if the heat index is at least 105 degrees for at least two days and minimum overnight temperature of at least 80 degrees. When this criteria is met, public notice will go out and an overnight cooling center will be made available.
For those in Lindsay, the designated cooling center is the Lindsay Public Library, which is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday.
The designated cooling center in Springville is the Springville Public Library, which is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 2 to 6 p.m. on Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The Strathmore Public Library is Strathmore’s only designated cooling center, and is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 2 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.
City Pool Another way Porterville residents and others can stay cool this summer is utilizing the city’s pool, which is open to the public from 12:15 to 4:15 p.m., and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. An intermission is from 2:15 to 1:30 p.m.
The pool is also open from 12:15 to 4:15 p.m., and from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The intermission for the weekend is from 3 to 3:15 p.m.
The cost to enter the city pool is $1 for children 12 and under, and $2 for adults. What to do before
extreme heat To prepare for extreme heat, the Porterville Fire Department has put together tips for residents, which include the following:
Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate if necessary.
Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.
Install temporary window reflectors (for use between windows and drapes), such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.
Weather-strip doors and sills to keep cool air in. Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers. (Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent.) Keep storm windows up all year. What to do during a heat emergency The following are guidelines the Porterville Fire Department has put together for what residents should do if the weather is extremely hot:
Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, and other community facilities. Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the perspiration rate of evaporation.
Eat well-balanced, light, and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
Drink plenty of water. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
Protect face and head by wearing a widebrimmed hat.
Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take frequent breaks.