Several cooling centers open in Sacramento County as 'significant heat' expected

Cooling centers are opening throughout Sacramento County this week with temperatures hitting the triple-digits through much of the next week.

The National Weather Service is forecasting significant heat in the Sacramento Valley Monday and Tuesday, and then returning Thursday through Saturday. Highs could reach from 102 to 112 degrees throughout the region.

Sacramento County has three Department of Human Assistance sites open as cooling centers Monday from 2-8 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 2-8 p.m.:

• The DHA Annex at 1725 28th St. in Midtown
• The DHA Service Center at 5747 Watt Ave. in North Highlands
• The DHA Service Center at 2450 Florin Road in South Sacramento

The city of Sacramento is opening its Outreach and Engagement Office at 3615 Auburn Blvd. as a cooling center Monday from noon to 8 p.m. The center, near Del Paso Park, can provide shelter for 50 people at a time. 

"We don't have full food service there, but they can get a snack, they can get water," city spokesperson Gregg Fishman said. "There are places for them to plug in and recharge devices. And there are some games and TV sets and other things there."

There's also space for pets. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg announced last month he'd like to keep the center open 24/7. A proposal could be put before the City Council as early as next week.

The city's libraries and community centers can also be used to cool off, although they don't provide the services cooling centers do.