After a short rainy reprieve, dangerously high temperatures have returned to the forecast in Wake County. The heatwave is expected to last throughout the week. The county's temporary cooling stations will open today and remain open through at least Tuesday, Aug. 11 to help residents stay safe.
"Extreme heat can cause serious illness to anyone without a place to cool down," said Darshan Patel, Wake County Emergency Management operations manager. "Make sure to stay hydrated and remember you can visit our cooling stations or another public space to take a rest."
Wake County activates cooling stations during prolonged periods of extreme high temperatures, which is defined as:
- Three consecutive days with heat index values of more than 100
- Heat Advisory (Heat Index 105-109) for two consecutive days
- Excessive Heat Warning (Head Index >= 110) for any period
Cooling Station Schedule
Wake County Public Libraries
Thursday - Tuesday
Closing times for libraries vary, so visitors should check online or call their local library for site-specific information.
Regional Centers and Health and Human Services Centers
Thursday - Friday and Monday - Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.:
- Wake County Health & Human Services, 220 Swinburne St., Raleigh
- Departure Regional Center, 5809 Departure Drive, Raleigh
- Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon
- Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest
- Southern Regional Center, 130 N. Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina
- Western Human Services Center, 111 James Jackson Ave., Cary
Sites that are not normally open to the public, such as EMS stations, fire stations and county fleet maintenance buildings, will not be available as cooling stations.
Cool for Wake
Cool for Wake is a seasonal program that provides free fans and air conditioning units to eligible residents during the summer months.
Households without air conditioning where a child, older adult or person with a disability live are eligible for help.
Visit wake.gov/coolforwake to learn more. Call 919-212-7083 or email CoolForWake@wake.gov to get connected.
Staying Safe in Extreme Heat
Adults older than 65, children younger than 4, people with existing medical conditions and those without access to air conditioning are at the greatest risk on days with high temperatures.
To stay safe and cool during extreme heat, residents are encouraged to:
- Stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
- Familiarize themselves with the medical conditions that can result from over-exposure to heat, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat and take frequent breaks.
- Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
