Coronavirus closures cut into Modesto-area residents’ options for heat-wave relief
As an early season heat wave is about to roast the Modesto area, many of the options residents have to keep cool — libraries, movie theaters, reservoirs (except for boating), and public pools and splash pads — are off-limits because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Last summer’s list of cooling zones and clean air zones throughout Stanislaus County listed 35 locations, including such places as the Modesto Senior Center and youth centers in Modesto, Riverbank and Newman.
But a current list provided Sunday by the Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services has just six spots:
- Ceres Community Center, 2701 Fourth St., open weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Hughson Community Center, 2307 Fourth St., open daily as needed for emergencies.
- Vintage Faire Mall, 3401 Dale Road, Modesto, newly opened. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
- Riverbank City Council chambers, 6707 Third St., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. alternating Fridays.
- Homeless Assistance Ministry Center, 432 S. Broadway, Turlock, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
- Waterford City Hall, 101 E St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
The National Weather Service on Sunday issued an “excessive heat warning,” up from its earlier excessive heat watch, to be in effect for Modesto from 11 a.m. Monday through 7 p.m. Thursday. That means “a heat index of 105 degrees or greater that will last for 2 hours or more,” with poor overnight relief, according to its website.
“... A heat warning means that some people can be seriously affected by heat if precautions are not taken. Studies in Canada, Europe, and the U.S. have indicated that mortality begins to increase exponentially as the heat increases or stays above a heat index of 104 degrees.”
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are possible for most people if simple precautions are not taken, the weather service says.
The high for Monday, which is Memorial Day, is predicted to be near 99 degrees, with a calm wind of about 6 mph. The night will cool to only around 70 degrees.
Tuesday will reach near 104, with a light wind. The overnight low should be about 72.
Wednesday is expected to be the hottest day of the week, with a high near 106 and an overnight low of 72.
Thursday is the last day of triple-digit heat — a high near 105, dropping to 71 overnight.
Friday should see a big drop in the daytime high, reaching only near 94 degrees. and Saturday’s high is predicted to be near 86.
If Wednesday hits 106, it will be the hottest May 28 on record by the Modesto Irrigation District, which has kept temperature data since 1939.
The highest temperature for May 28 is 105 degrees, set in 1984. The only other triple-digit high was 100 degrees in 2003. The average high temperature for May 28 is 82 degrees, MID says.
On its website, the Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services, or StanEmergency, offers tips for preventing heat-related illness. They include wearing lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing; avoiding hot, heavy meals; and trying to limit outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours.
This story was originally published May 24, 2020 at 12:32 PM.
