It’s hot out there, y’all.
With temperatures soaring and staying in the triple digits through at least Saturday, the remainder of the week is shaping up to be more than a boggy, sweaty mess — it’s also a recipe for heat-related illness.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued extreme heat warnings for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 2-4, with heat index values as high as 112 degrees fahrenheit. Severe thunderstorms are also possible throughout central Virginia and the surrounding region Friday through Sunday, according to NWS.
The combination of unusually high temperatures and high humidity limits the body’s ability to cool down efficiently as sweat evaporates, putting people at increased risk of heat cramps, exhaustion and heatstroke, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In a July 1 media release, Gov. Abigail Spanberger urged Virginians to exercise caution throughout the holiday weekend, especially during the anticipated hottest days Thursday through Saturday.
Spanberger also encouraged community members to follow Virginia Department of Health safety recommendations during hot and humid weather, including: drinking water and limiting dehydrating beverages such as alcohol and caffeine; wearing lightweight clothing and sunscreen; limiting physical activity, especially in the middle of the day; not leaving kids or pets in cars; and checking in on vulnerable neighbors such as the elderly. You can read more about VDH’s heat safety tips here.
Here are some places throughout central Virginia you can go if you need to get out of the heat:
City of Charlottesville
- Herman Key Jr. Recreation Center
- 800 E. Market St., Charlottesville, VA
- Monday to Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.; Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Jefferson Madison Regional Library Central Branch
- 201 E. Market St., Charlottesville, VA
- Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tonsler Recreation Center
- 500 Cherry Ave., Charlottesville, VA
- Monday to Friday from noon to 9 p.m.; Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
- The Haven
- 112 W. Market St., Charlottesville, VA
- Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to noon
Albemarle County
Abbey Stumpf, Albemarle County Director of Communications and Public Engagement, said that while the county wasn’t planning on opening any standalone cooling centers as of Wednesday, July 1, community members are encouraged to seek shelter in public buildings during regular business hours.
In Albemarle County, some of those public buildings include:
- Albemarle County Office Buildings
- 401 McEntire Rd., Charlottesville, VA
- Regular business hours: Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Friday, July 3 for the holiday)
- 1600 5th St., Charlottesville, VA
- Regular business hours: Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed Friday, July 3 for the holiday)
- 401 McEntire Rd., Charlottesville, VA
- Crozet Library
- 2020 Library Ave., Crozet, VA
- Regular business hours: Monday and Tuesday from 1 p.m to 9 p.m.; Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Saturday, July 4 due to the holiday)
Albemarle County has also waived fees to use the following swimming beaches Thursday, July 2 to Saturday, July 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
- Chris Greene Lake Park
- 4748 Chris Greene Lake Road, Charlottesville, VA
- Mint Springs Valley Park
- 6659 Mint Springs Park, Crozet, VA
- Walnut Creek Park
- 4250 Walnut Creek Park ,North Garden, VA
Buckingham County
- Buckingham County Library
- 16266 N. James Madison Highway, Dillwyn, VA
- Regular business hours: Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Saturday, July, 4 for the holiday)
Culpeper County
- Culpeper Human Services Office (lobby)
- 1835 Industry Drive, Culpeper, VA
- Thursday, July 2 during regular business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Bottled water and light snacks available
- Culpeper Career Resource Center (lobby)
- 219 E. Davis St., Culpeper, VA
- Thursday, July 2 during regular business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Bottled water and light snacks available
- Culpeper County Fieldhouse
- 16388 Competition Drive, Culpeper, VA
- Friday, July 3 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Water fountain available
- New Beginnings Outreach Center
- 1002 S. Main St., Culpeper, VA
- Thursday, July 2 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, July 3 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, July 4-5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Water and light snacks available
Cumberland County
- Cumberland Library
- 1539 Anderson Highway, Cumberland, VA
- Regular business hours: Monday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Saturday, July 4 for the holiday)
Fluvanna County
- Fluvanna County Public Library
- 214 Commons Blvd., Palmyra, VA
- Wednesday and Thursday, July 1-2 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, July 3 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, July 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Greene County
- Greene County EMS Building
- 9835 Spotswood Trail, Stanardsville, VA
- Open daily starting Wednesday, July 1 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Light snacks and bottled water provided
- Greene County Library
- 222 Main St. Suite 101, Stanardsville, VA
- Regular business hours: Monday and Tuesday from noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Saturday, July 4 for the holiday)
Louisa County
- Louisa County Department of Human Services
- 114 Industrial Drive, Louisa, VA
- Regular business hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Friday, July 3 for the holiday)
- Betty J. Queen Center
- 522 Industrial Drive, Louisa, VA
- Regular business hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (closed Friday, July 3 for the holiday)
- Louisa County Library
- 881 Davis Highway, Mineral, VA
- Wednesday to Thursday, July 1-2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, July 3-4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday and Tuesday, July 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Madison County
- Madison County Social Services Office
- 101 S. Main St., Madison, VA
- Wednesday to Friday, July 1-3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Holiday weekend hours to be announced
- Light snacks and bottled water will be available in the lobby and boardroom
Orange County
- Orange County Social Services Office
- 146 N. Madison Road Suite 201, Orange, VA
- Wednesday to Thursday, July 1-2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Water available
- Orange County Airport (terminal)
- 11275 Aviation Way, Orange, VA
- Saturday, July 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Orange Church of the Nazarene (lower level)
- 159 W. Nelson St., Orange, VA
- Wednesday to Sunday, July 1-6 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Water and snacks available
- Gordonsville Town Hall
- 112 S. Main St.
- Gordonsville, VA
- Regular business hours: Wednesday and Thursday, July 1-2 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Gordonsville Town Manager Anthony Schienschang said that while the town hall is not an official county cooling center, community members are welcome to step inside anytime during normal business hours to beat the heat or to use the water bottle refilling station.
Nelson County
In an email Wednesday evening, Nelson County Administrator Candy McGarry confirmed that at this time, the county does not have plans to open a cooling center, although that may change if they receive requests from residents. McGarry recommended seeking shelter in several free public spaces in Nelson County during regular business hours, including:
- Nelson Memorial Library
- 8521 Thomas Nelson Highway, Lovingston, VA
- Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Saturday, July 4 for the holiday)
- Rockfish Valley Community Center
- 190 Rockfish School Lane, Afton, VA
- Air conditioned room available Saturday, July 4 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, July 5 from 9 to 6 p.m.
Prince Edward County
- Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library
- 1303 W. Third St., Farmville, VA
- Regular business hours: Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. (closed Saturday, July 4 for the holiday)
- Southside YMCA
- 580 Commerce Road, Farmville, VA
- Monday to Thursday from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 7 a.m to noon (limited hours due to the holiday); Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
- ID required
- Darlington Heights Fire Department
- 2673 Darlington Heights Road, Cullen, VA
- Wednesday to Sunday, July 1-5 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
Take action
Stay safe and healthy during hot and humid weather
The Virginia Department of Health has several safety recommendations during hot and humid weather, including: drinking water and limiting dehydrating beverages such as alcohol and caffeine; wearing lightweight clothing and sunscreen; limiting physical activity, especially in the middle of the day; not leaving kids or pets in cars; and checking in on vulnerable neighbors such as the elderly.
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