Summer Starts - with a vengeance
Think cool! Photo by Steve Brown.
Summer has arrived in the Mojave and Colorado deserts with a vengeance. High temperatures are expected to hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend in the hi-desert, with the Coachella Valley climbing higher. An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service through Sunday evening.
High temperatures are expected to be from 105 to 110 in Las Vegas and much of the Mojave Desert, and 115 to 121 in Death Valley. Lows will be between 75 and 85 degrees.
The Town of Yucca Valley is urging residents to stay cool by seeking air conditioned buildings, staying hydrated, and limiting outdoor activities during the hottest times of the day. Desert residents are urged to check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone. Children and pets should not be left inside vehicles. One dog died in Joshua Tree National Park this past weekend when temperatures were significantly lower than they will be this weekend. Please do not take chances with your health or that of your children and pets.
In Twentynine Palms, the city has designated the Senior Center downtown as an official cooling center. The center is located at 6539 Adobe Road, next to the Morongo Basin Transit Authority transit center and across from the Twentynine Palms Fire Station.
The center is climate controlled and open for residents to chill between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. If the heat index reaches 115 degrees or other conditions necessitate, the building will stay open as an emergency cooling center for additional evening hours and may be opened on Saturday or Sunday. The center is equipped with a generator in the event of a power outage.
Residents should bring their own food and snacks, and no pets are allowed inside the building. For assistance, residents can call the Senior Center at (760)367-5780 or (760)361-1410. For pet and animal information, contact Palms-N-Paws at (760)367-0157.
Desert residents are advised to drink plenty of water, wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothes, and limit outdoor activity. Either that or go to the beach.
If you or someone you know is feeling ill from the heat, remove them from the heat immediately, if possible, provide water, and seek medical help or call 911. This is serious folks. We lose people every summer.