The county is bracing for record-breaking triple-digit temperatures forecasted to peak at 109 degrees on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
With cooling shelters opening and services altering their schedules to keep employees out of the heat, Clark County Public Health warns people to be mindful of staying hydrated and taking care of themselves.
“We encourage everyone to avoid or limit physical activity outdoors, take shelter in air-conditioned buildings and drink plenty of fluids during this stretch of intense heat,” Public Health Director Alan Melnick said in a news release. “We strongly recommend organizers of outdoor events consider rescheduling or canceling those events.”
The National Weather Service also encourages people to check on their loved ones and neighbors, especially those who are elderly or very young. Those people are often more sensitive to heat.
The warming begins Friday and will bring three days of temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, according to forecasters. Although Vancouver reached 105 degrees in June 1942, forecasters say three days of triple-digit heat is unusual for the area.
Vancouver’s hottest day in recorded history was 108 degrees in July 2009.
Forecasters expect Monday and Tuesday to be cooler, but only back into the 90s.
Don’t expect it to cool off much overnight either. Forecasters predict overnight lows in the 70s or upper 60s.
Battle Ground activated the splash pads at Kiwanis and Whispering Pines parks for the rest of the summer. Vancouver also turned on the Esther Short Park fountain Thursday. The Waterfront Vancouver interactive water feature debuts for the season in July.
County health officials have lifted the advisory for Vancouver Lake because water quality has improved. Still, public health warns people to avoid floating algae blooms in the lake.
Cooling centers
Cooling shelters will be open throughout the county over the weekend.
Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries are open with 50 percent capacity through the end of the month. The Vancouver Community Library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at 901 C St.
The Cascade Park Library is open during the same hours at 600 N.E. 136th Ave., except that it is closed on Sunday.
The Three Creeks Library is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 800 N.E. Tenney Road. It is closed Sunday but is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday.
People can go to the Battle Ground Library from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at 1207 S.E. Eighth Way. It is closed Sunday.
In Vancouver, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Trinity Baptist Church and Living Hope Church will be open over the weekend with snacks and drinks. All three churches are also allowing pets
St. Joseph is open from 3:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Monday and Tuesday at 400 S. Andresen Road. It will also be open from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Trinity Baptist will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday at 6700 MacArthur Blvd. Living Hope’s hours are 2 to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday and noon to 7 p.m. Monday. It is at 2711 N.E. Andersen Road.
The Battle Ground Community Center is encouraging anyone looking to cool down to bring games and come to the center from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 912 E. Main St.
The Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center will be open from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 510 Pioneer St.
Cooling spaces will also be at:
- Marshall Park: 1069 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver.
- Marine Park Boat Launch: 4501 S.E. Columbia Way, Vancouver.
- Leroy Haagen Memorial Park: Northeast Ninth Street, Vancouver
- North Devine Road at Burnt Bridge Creek.
- Vancouver Waterfront Park/Portland Loos (restrooms): 695 Waterfront Way.
- Ballfields by the old Vancouver public library at Mill Plain Boulevard and Fort Vancouver Way.
Vaccination site
The COVID-19 vaccination site at Tower Mall will close early at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and noon Monday due to the heat. The center is closed on Sundays.
The vaccination site will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, which is its last day of operation. COVID-19 vaccinations are widely available at pharmacies and medical offices.
Water your trees
Vancouver’s Urban Forestry staff are encouraging people to ensure they’re watering trees enough over the summer. Trees typically need about 10 gallons of water for every inch of diameter of the tree trunk, each time you water, according to the department.
Urban Forestry recommends people either turn a hose on low for 15 minutes, make holes in the bottom of a five-gallon bucket and fill it with water at the base of a tree or install a slow-release watering bag to ensure that water reaches deeper roots.
They also recommend that people water in the mornings to reduce evaporation and mulch 3 feet around trees.
People can find more information about tree watering at www.cityofvancouver.us/urbanforestry.
