Elk Grove opens cooling center as city and region brace for punishing heat wave
Elk Grove will open a cooling station Friday and through the weekend as dangerous triple-digit heat moves into the Sacramento region.
The Wackford Community Complex, 9014 Bruceville Road, will be open noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday to anyone who lacks shelter or adequate home cooling. A limited number of kennels will also be on site for house pets, city officials said.
Elk Grove police will staff the cooling center, the opening of which was triggered by the excessive heat warning issued Thursday by the National Weather Service.
Forecasters in Sacramento have declared a “major heat risk” to people and animals through the weekend, with temperatures forecast to reach as high as 111 degrees in some Sacramento Valley spots, expected to peak Saturday.
“The heat forecast for the area is DANGEROUS to anyone without access to proper cooling & hydration, & to those who will be outside for work/activities,” weather service forecasters posted to social media feeds Thursday.
Elk Grove officials are calling on residents to avoid outdoor activities in the direct sun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., keep hydrated and stay in a cool space. Residents should also avoid area waterways as rivers continue to run cold and fast.
For cooling locations, days and times throughout Sacramento County, please visit 211sacramento.org.
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