Somerville Declares Heat Emergency: Extreme Heat Warning in Effect July 1-4 (Wednesday-Saturday): Take Precautions to Stay Safe and Cool

The City of Somerville has declared a Heat Emergency, effective Wednesday-Saturday, July 1-4, due to the dangerously hot temperatures forecast for this week. Feels-like temperatures around 110 degrees are expected, and temperatures are not expected to cool down much overnight. The City is making bottled water free and available to anyone who needs it at City Hall and all Somerville Public Library locations during regular business hours on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (while supplies last).

The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for Wednesday through Saturday, July 1-4. An Extreme Heat Warning means that dangerous heat is expected. The forecasted conditions can cause heat illness if proper precautions are not taken. Avoid outdoor activities, if possible, especially during the heat of the day, and stay out of the direct sun. Stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible. Those without air conditioning are encouraged to find a place to cool down. Consider City buildings, listed below, or staying with nearby family or friends who have air conditioning. Please be advised that although the Heat Warning is forecast to end Saturday evening, the weather is expected to remain hot through the holiday weekend.

Staying Cool in Somerville

• Air-Conditioned City Buildings:

If you don’t have air conditioning, you can seek relief from the heat in air-conditioned City buildings. 

• Anyone is welcome to visit the Somerville Public Libraries during their regular hours. All library locations will be closed Saturday, July 4 for Independence Day. Regular hours resume Sunday, July 5. For locations and hours, visit somervillepubliclibrary.org/.
• Seniors are also welcome to visit Council on Aging Senior Centers on weekdays. For locations, hours, and activity information, visit somervillema.gov/coa.
• Outdoor Water Features
  • All splash pads are currently open, including Lincoln Park.
  • Many Somerville city parks and playgrounds 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.
  • Find a water feature: Water feature information is available in multiple languages under the “Stay Cool Outside” section of the City’s Keep Cool webpage at somervillema.gov/keepcool.
• Outdoor Pools
  • For more information on Somerville pools, visit somervillema.gov/pools.
  • Dilboy Pool’s regular hours are daily 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. for the public. Early morning lap swim time is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. More information at bit.ly/dilboypool. Please note: Dilboy Pool will be open normal hours on Saturday, July 4.
  • Latta Brothers Memorial Pool at Foss Park is open daily 11:15 a.m. - 6:45 p.m. The spray deck is open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Latta Pool is a state-owned pool managed and operated by the Commonwealth. More information is available at mass.gov/swimming. Please note: Latta Pool will be open normal hours on Saturday, July 4.
  • Free: Admission to Dilboy Pool is free for all. Admission to Latta Pool is free for State residents, including Somerville residents.
  • With public transportation, you can also visit pools in nearby communities. See other regional pools at somervillema.gov/pools.

Safety Tips

Heat safety tips and ways to keep cool in and around Somerville are below. Safety tips are also available in multiple languages on the City’s website at somervillema.gov/keepcool.

Top 5 Heat Safety Tips: 

1. Never leave children or pets unattended in a car or other vehicle, even for a quick errand and even if the windows are open. In the forecasted heat, car interiors could reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
2. Stay indoors as much as possible during extreme heat. Reschedule outdoor activities, if possible, especially during the hottest part of the day, and avoid direct sunlight.
3. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated or very sugary drinks. 
4. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.  
5. Stay informed: Follow City social media pages and contact 311 for the latest information on places you can visit to cool off. Any potential updates will be posted to somervillema.gov.

Be a Good Neighbor:  

• Check on relatives, friends, and neighbors who don’t have air conditioning 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 anyone out in the heat who appears immobile or disoriented, ALWAYS call 911 so they can receive the necessary help. If in doubt about whether to call 911, always call.

Stay Cool Without Air Conditioning:

• Stay hydrated.
• Take a cool shower or bath or hold a cold washcloth on your neck or wrists.
• Close the curtains or blinds on windows that face the sun.
• Close the doors to rooms that don’t have vents or registers and aren’t being used.
• Stay on your lowest floor because heat rises.
• Use your fan in or next to an open window. At night, use a fan to bring in cooler air from outside. During the day, turn the fan around to vent hot air out.
• Don’t use a fan to blow directly on you when temperatures are 95°F or higher.
• Turn off unneeded lights and electronics, and avoid using your stove, oven, and other appliances that generate heat, like a dishwasher or dryer.

Learn to Recognize Signs and Symptoms of Heat Illnesses:  

• 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 skin; a fast pulse; nausea; headache, dizziness or confusion; and possible unconsciousness. While waiting for help to arrive, move the person to a cool area and cool them down with cool wet towels or a cool bath. DON’T give them fluids. 
• Heat exhaustion  
  • Look for: heavy sweating; cold, pale, and clammy skin; a fast or weak pulse; nausea or vomiting; muscle cramps; tiredness or weakness; dizziness; headache
  • Move to a cool place, loosen your clothes, cool down with cool wet towels or 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 cramps  
  • Look for: lots of sweating, muscle cramps or spasms.  
  • Stop physical activity, move to a cool place, and drink water or a sports drink. Get medical help if cramps last longer than one hour, your symptoms get worse, you’re on a low-sodium diet, or you have heart problems.  

The above information is general guidance. When in doubt, move to a cooler place and get medical help right away.

Tips For Pet Parents:  

• Never leave your pet in your car or vehicle, even if the windows are open. 
• 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.  
• 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 prone to heat stroke. These pets, and pets that are older, overweight, or have heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.  

Other Ways to Stay Cool:

With public transportation, you can also visit nearby communities that offer water features or pools. Please check for information from those communities on schedules and fees.

• Visit cambridgema.gov/heat to see a "Get Cool and Get Hydrated Map" and cambridgema.gov/Services/recpoolsandswimming for pools in Cambridge.
• Visit the Parks and Fields page on arlingtonma.gov.
• Visit boston.gov/heat for places to stay cool, pools, and splash pads.
• Visit the Recreation page on medfordma.org.
• Visit mass.gov/swimming for a list of state-managed Swimming Pools, Wading Pools and Spray Decks.

Know How to Swim or Recreate Near Bodies of Water Safely

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.  

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should contact the ADA Coordinator in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.

If you need assistance understanding this information, please contact us at languageaccess@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311). The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter for free.