MONTEREY COUNTY — An excessive heat warning has been issued by the U.S. National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey California beginning Thursday through early next week for Monterey County.
Areas under warning include: southern Salinas Valley, Arroyo Seco, Lake San Antonio, Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, Mountains of San Benito, Pinnacles National Park and interior Monterey County.
Dangerous hot conditions are expected until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, with possible temperatures between 105 and 115 degrees.
“Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities,” according to the NWS alert.
Conditions will be particularly dangerous to heat-sensitive groups, such as farmworkers and others working outdoors.
Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales offered suggestions for protecting these workers:
“Plan your field activities accordingly and follow all applicable heat illness regulations to protect farmworkers by providing cooled water, frequent cool-down rest periods, access to shade, monitoring, emergency response procedures reminders, emergency medical services information, and information/training on the different types of heat illness (heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat blackouts and heat stroke).”
For more information, visit the Cal OSHA website for heat illness information.
COOLING CENTERS
The City of King has made arrangements to have cooling facilities available upon request during this severe heatwave. The cooling centers will be located at the King City Recreation Center at 401 Division St. and City Hall at 212 S. Vanderhurst Ave.
Anyone in need of a cooling space due to health concerns related to heat conditions can contact City Hall at 831-385-3281 during business hours on Thursday, Sept. 1, Friday, Sept. 2, and Tuesday, Sept. 6.
During the weekend and Labor Day holiday on Monday, contact the King City Police Department’s non-emergency dispatch number at 831-385-8311 to request opening of a cooling center when needed on Sept. 3, 4 or 5.
In response to requests, a cooling center will be activated during the hours of noon to 5 p.m. on any of those days.
The City of Greenfield will have a cooling station available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Sept. 3 at the Greenfield Community Science Workshop, 45 El Camino Real, in Greenfield.
In Gonzales, the city will be operating a cooling station at the Vosti Center, 107 Centennial Drive, from 12 to 5 p.m. over the holiday weekend, from Sept. 3 to 5.
The city will also be hosting a rec swim at the Gonzales Community Pool on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Soledad Community Center will host a cooling center on Saturday, Sept. 3, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering free ice cream while supplies last. The facility is at 560 Walker Drive, in Soledad.
