Douglas County to open cooling rooms as excessive heat warning goes up

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. – According to the National Weather Service dangerously hot temperatures exceeding 100 degrees are expected over the weekend (July 15-16) in Douglas County. An excessive heat watch has been issued by the National Weather Service from Saturday morning-Monday evening.

There is hot, and then there is hot! Extreme heat is a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days. In extreme heat, your body works extra hard to maintain a normal temperature, which can lead to death. Extreme heat is responsible for the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards.

While the humidity will remain low in Douglas County and Lake Tahoe, the heat is expected with a high of 91-92 at Lake Tahoe Saturday-Monday, and for the Carson Valley, the forecast is a 96 Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 100, then a 98 Monday.

Douglas County is offering the following information and resources to help protect the public:

Douglas County is advising residents and visitors to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun during the hottest period of the day, and check up on those relatives and neighbors who are heat vulnerable. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Car interiors in hot weather can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.

Periods of high heat can cause power outages. Extended outages may impact the community—closing stores, transportation, banks, and gas stations. Please be prepared.

The following locations have air conditioning and can be utilized as a place to cool down during normal business hours. Due to current renovations at the Douglas County Community and Senior Center, the gym will be open and the senior center closed. People are welcome to come inside the gym area and cool off during normal business hours.

Douglas County Community and Senior Center (8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday), 1329 Waterloo Ln, Gardnerville, NV 89410

Kahle Park and Community Center (8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, Closed Sundays),
236 NV-207, Stateline, NV 89449

For more information on preparing for high temperatures, visit ready.gov/heat.