Politics & Government
The Heat is On and City Cooling Centers Are Open
Five centers open as temperatures are expected to rise; heat and air quality warnings issued.
Rockville opened cooling centers around the city on Wednesday afternoon as temperatures climbed into the mid-90s with a heat index that made it feel like 100 degrees.
The centers are open during normal hours of operation at the following five city facilities:
- Lincoln Park Community Center, 357 Frederick Ave.
- Rockville Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Drive.
- Thomas Farm Community Center, 700 Fallsgrove Drive.
- Twinbrook Community Recreation Center, 12920 Twinbrook Parkway.
- Croydon Creek Nature Center, 852 Avery Road.
Click the links above for the centers’ operating hours.
Find out what's happening in Rockvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The centers offer free admission to designated cooling areas. Adults must accompany children. Use of the centers’ other amenities requires the usual fees.
The Rockville Swim and Fitness Center, at 355 Martins Lane, remains open. Low-income city residents may be eligible for financial assistance for pool passes. Call 240-314-8750 for more information.
Find out what's happening in Rockvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The county issued a news release early Wednesday evening reminding residents that county facilities are open—and cool. County recreation centers are waiving normal sign-in and access card requirements in order to offer residents respite from the heat.
The city opens the cooling centers on days when the temperature is 95 degrees or more or when a Code Red air quality alert is issued for Montgomery County, meaning the air is unhealthy to the general population.
The National Weather Service forecasts more dangerously hot temperatures for at least the next four days. A Code Orange air quality advisory was in effect on Wednesday afternoon, meaning that air pollution may be unhealthy to children, people with asthma, heart or lung disease, and the elderly.
By Wednesday afternoon, the weather service had already issued an excessive heat warning for the region for Thursday and Friday afternoons.
Temperatures could reach 102 degrees on Friday. A chance of thunderstorms on Friday evening could bring scant amounts of rain but are not expected to bring any relief from the heat.
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