June 20 marks the first official day of summer, and it’s starting off with a searing heat wave that has the potential to be deadly, with communities scrambling to open cooling centers for residents to take shelter.
All of southeast Michigan will face an extreme heat watch starting June 21 until the 24, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in White Lake.
Urban areas closest to the city of Detroit will face the hottest conditions, according to Megan Varcie, a meteorologist at the NWS Detroit office. This is because there’s more concrete and less shade in cities, so it feels warmer compared to rural areas.
Although the temperature will be in the 90s, according to NWS, it will feel hotter than 90 degrees because of the humidity.
“The combination of heat and humidity makes it harder for your body to cool itself down; it’s likely to exceed 100 degrees, which is warm for late June,” Varcie said.
As a result, cities are bracing for hot weather by opening city buildings to residents as cooling centers
The Detroit Health Department, alongside Detroit Recreation Centers, is citing places like the Detroit Public Library, the Community Center at A.B Ford, and the Adams Butzel Complex for residents to escape the heat.
The Patton Recreation Center, Heilmann Recreation Center, and Northwest Activities Center all extended their hours of operation to accommodate the heat wave. They will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 21-24.
The full list of cooling centers can be found online at the City of Detroit site. Other communities in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties are also opening cooling centers. Check municipal websites for a complete listing.
To prepare for the incoming brutal heat, Varice recommends staying indoors with air conditioning. If you have to go outside, be sure to wear lightweight clothing and drink plenty of fluids.
The forecast calls for 90-degree heat with the chance of thunder on Saturday. It will be sunny with temperatures rising to mid-90s early next week. There won’t be much relief at night with the temperature in the mid-70s.
The American Red Cross emphasizes the importance of staying somewhere indoors with air conditioning, because electric fans may not prevent heat-related illnesses. Additionally, having a sports drink and snack is key to replenishing the salts and minerals you sweat out.
More tips on how to protect yourself before, during, and after an extreme heat wave can be found at American Red Cross.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Metro Detroit communities open cooling centers as heat spikes
Reporting by Ayah Imran, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
