OHIO — Dangerous heat and humidity are expected to settle across Ohio beginning Monday, with temperatures climbing into the 90s and heat index values expected to exceed 100 degrees in many areas throughout the week.
In response, several cities across the state have opened or expanded access to cooling centers where residents can escape the dangerous conditions.
In Akron, the Summit Lake Community Center will extend its hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Other Akron community centers will remain open during their normal business hours, and city officials said they will continue monitoring temperatures and adjust hours if needed.
The City of Canton will operate multiple cooling centers Monday through Friday, including Canton Fire Station No. 4, Refuge of Hope, Crossroads United Methodist Church, ICAN Housing and all Stark Library locations. SARTA will also provide free transportation to cooling centers for riders using its regular bus routes.
In Cincinnati, all Cincinnati Recreation Commission recreation centers will serve as free cooling centers during regular operating hours, regardless of membership status. The city’s spraygrounds are also open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The City of Columbus has opened cooling centers at five regional community centers from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. until the current heat wave subsides. The centers are located at Dodge, Driving Park, Glenwood, Linden and Marion Franklin community centers.
Cleveland and Toledo are also directing residents to online interactive maps to locate the nearest cooling center.
Additional cooling centers are available in several communities, including:
- Beavercreek: Beavercreek Senior Center and Beavercreek Community Library.
- Cedarville: Cedarville Community Library.
- Dover: 897 Iron Ave., open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
- Fairborn: Fairborn Senior Center and Fairborn Community Library.
- Yellow Springs: Yellow Springs Senior Center, Yellow Springs Community Library and John Bryan Community Center.
Residents whose communities are not listed are encouraged to contact their local city government or dial 211 to find nearby cooling centers and other heat-related resources.
Health officials urge people to stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day, wear lightweight clothing, and check on older adults, young children and others who may be more vulnerable to extreme heat.
