Extreme Heat Expected in Somerville June 18-21: Take Steps to Stay Safe and Cool

Extreme heat, that is unusual for our area this early in the summer, is expected in Somerville and the region this week. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Tuesday afternoon, and an Excessive Heat Watch for Wednesday afternoon through Friday evening. Community members are urged to take precautions to stay safe and healthy as temperatures are currently expected to rise well into the 90s, possibly approaching 100 degrees this week.

Temperatures are forecast to feel hotter than 100 degrees at times, potentially rising to a heat index (how temperatures feel) of 106 degrees. Taking steps to keep cool and safe is very important during excessive heat. 

Heat safety tips and ways to keep cool in and around Somerville are included below. Safety tips are also available in multiple languages on the City’s Keeping Cool in Hot Weather webpage. 

Importantly:  

• Never leave children or pets unattended in a car or vehicle, even if the windows are open.  
• Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid alcoholic beverages and drinks with caffeine or large amounts of sugar.  
• Reduce time spent in direct sun and wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses when outside.  
• Limit outdoor activity to the morning and evening hours. Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day, which is typically 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• Follow City social media pages and contact 311 for the latest information on places you can visit to cool off.  

Take Care of Yourself and Others:  

• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing.   
• Take frequent breaks if working outdoors. Take your breaks in the shade if you can. 
• Check on relatives, friends, and neighbors who don’t have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone, or who are more likely to be affected by the heat. These groups may include older adults, infants and children, people with chronic medical conditions, and people who are pregnant.  
• If you see individuals out in the heat who appear immobile or disoriented, please call 9-1-1 so they can receive the necessary help. 
• If you don’t have air conditioning, you can seek relief from the heat in air-conditioned City buildings.
• The Somerville Public Libraries are air conditioned and will be open during regular hours Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
  • The East Branch will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday. All other library branches are closed on Wednesday in observance of Juneteenth.
• Seniors can visit the Somerville Council on Aging’s Holland Street Center, which will be open for its regular activities during normal hours Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. All Council on Aging senior centers are closed on Wednesday in observance of Juneteenth.
• For parents/guardians: You can help avoid burns by checking if playground equipment is hot to the touch. If so, it is too hot for a child’s bare skin. Additionally, limit playtime at peak sun exposure time and familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of heat illnesses.  

Learn to Recognize Signs and Symptoms of Heat Illnesses:  

• Heat cramps  
• Look for: heavy sweating during intense exercise, muscle pain, or spasms  
• If you have heat cramps: stop physical activity, move to a cool place, and drink water or a sports drink. Wait for cramps to go away before you do any more physical activity and get medical help if cramps last longer than one hour, you’re on a low-sodium diet, or you have heart problems.  
• Heat exhaustion  
• Look for: heavy sweating; cold, pale, and clammy skin; a fast, weak pulse; nausea or vomiting; muscle cramps; tiredness or weakness; dizziness; headache; fainting  
• If you expect heat exhaustion, move to a cool place, loosen your clothes, put wet towels on your body or take a cool bath, and sip water. Get medical help if you are vomiting, your symptoms get worse, or your symptoms last longer than one hour.  
• Heat stroke  
• If someone is showing signs of heat stroke call 911 immediately.Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Signs of heat stroke include a body temperature over 103°F; hot, red, dry, or damp skin; a fast and strong pulse; nausea; headache, dizziness or confusion; and possible unconsciousness. While waiting for help to arrive, move the person to a cool area and help cool them down with wet towels or a cool bath. DON’T give them fluids.  

Tips For Pet Parents:  

• Don’t leave pets outside for long periods of time.  
• Provide plenty of fresh water and, if outside, leave the water in a shady area.  
• Don’t let dogs linger on hot asphalt during high temperatures.  
• Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor, or collapse.   
• Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with pets that are older, overweight, or have heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.  
• Don’t leave pets unsupervised around a pool or other body of water.  
• Again, never leave your pet in your car or vehicle, even if the windows are open. 

Stay Cool In and Around Somerville:  

Many Somerville city parks have water features that run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The water sprays are on timers and stop for 20 minutes between cycles. Click here to see an interactive map of Somerville parks with water features.  Water feature information is also available in multiple languages under the “Stay Cool Outside” section of the City’s Keeping Cool in Hot Weather webpage. 

Please note: Dilboy Pool is currently undergoing repairs and is closed until later this summer. The Latta Brothers Memorial Pool is a state-managed pool and is not scheduled to open until June 22. The water features at North Street Veterans Playground, Grimmons Park, and Hoyt Sullivan Playground are also currently closed for repairs. 

With access to the Green Line and other public transportation, you can also visit nearby communities that offer water features or pools:   

• Parks in Arlington   
• Places to stay cool in Boston  
• Cambridge Waterplay Map  
• Medford Parks and Playgrounds   
• State-managed Swimming Pools, Wading Pools and Spray Decks 

During hot weather, more people cool off in and around bodies of water. Learn how to keep yourself and others safe in and around water by reviewing Water Safety tips provided by the Commonwealth at mass.gov/water-safety.  

Sign up for City Alerts:  

Community members are encouraged to sign up for City Alerts to receive timely information about emergencies and other important community news. You can sign up to receive alerts in your preferred language via phone, text, email, or all three. You can update your alert preferences at any time. Visit somervillema.gov/alerts.  

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Adrienne Pomeroy, at 617-625-6600 x2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov

The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter in your language for free. To request an interpreter, please contact us at somerviva@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event.