Local weather reports are calling this week the hottest week of the year.
The hottest day of the week is expected to be Thursday. An excessive heat watch is in effect in the afternoon, according to LINK nky partner WCPO. Temperatures are expected to be 98 degrees with a heat index of 105-110 degrees, making it one of the hottest days in the region since August 2012.
Earlier this week, WCPO reported that this week was the hottest of the year so far.
Temperatures are expected to stay hot going into Friday at 95 degrees in the afternoon and a heat index of around 105. Some relief is coming. A cold front is expected to arrive on Saturday, bringing temperatures down to the mid-80s.
Extreme heat can cause people to suffer from heat-related illnesses when their bodies cannot cool themselves, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also known as the CDC. Older adults, young children, and people with chronic medical conditions are at the highest risk.
Here are places people can go to stay cool:
The Boone County Office of Emergency Management recommends using libraries to seek shelter.
“All the library locations are public places and are welcoming during normal operating hours,” Deputy Director Boone County Emergency Management Matthew Allen said.
All three county public libraries offer Wi-Fi, computers, free programs, play areas, air conditioning, and more.
Kenton County Public Library has branches in Covington at 502 Scott St., Erlanger at 401 Kenton Lands Road, and Independence at 1992 Walton Nicholson Road.
Library hours are:
- Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Campbell County Public Library has locations in Alexandria at 8333 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring at 3920 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas at 1000 Highland Ave., and Newport at 901 East 6th St.
Library hours are (excluding Alexandria):
- Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Alexandria’s branch hours are:
- Monday through Friday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Boone County Public Library has locations in Burlington at 1786 Burlington Pike, Florence at 7425 U.S. Highway 42, Hebron at 1863 N Bend Road., Union at 8899 U.S. Highway 42, and Walton at 21 S Main St.
Boone County Libraries branches have varying hours of operation. To view those hours, click here.
Kenton County Administration Building and Independence Senior Center:
Kenton County will be opening two cooling centers, operational from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, and Friday, Aug. 25.
The first location is in the Kenton County Administration Building, Riedlin Schott Room, located at 1840 Simon Kenton Way, Suite 2600, in Covington.
The second location is in the Independence Senior Center, at 2001 Jack Woods Parkway, in Independence.
According to Kenton County the community cooling centers are intended to help provide temporary relief during the heat advisory forecast. The cooling centers will provide an air-conditioned building that will be open to the public during the specified dates and times. These centers are not overnight shelters and will not be providing meals or drinks other than the publicly available water fountains.
Shopping malls are another public area where people can get some air conditioning.
Newport on the Levee, located at One Levee Way, has an indoor shopping center, including “Trade” featuring local shops and makers. The Levee is open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the week and 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on the weekends.
The Florence Mall, located at 2028 Florence Mall, is an indoor shopping mall open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily except Sunday, which has hours from noon to 6 p.m.
The CDC offers tips to stay cool should you find yourself outside during the heatwave:
- Wear weather-appropriate clothing—this includes lightweight, loose-fitting clothes.
- Limit your outdoor activity to the coolest times of day—morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.
- Pace yourself—If you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint, get into a cool area or the shade and rest.
- Wear sunscreen—sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. A CDC tip is to look for sunscreens that say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels, as they provide the best protection.
- Drink plenty of fluids—regardless of how active you are, and do not wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
- Stay away from very sugary or alcoholic drinks—according to the CDC, these types of drinks cause you to lose more body fluid.
- Check for updates—check the local news for extreme heat alerts.
- Know the signs—learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses.