With the National Weather Service forecasting triple-digit temperatures for the coming days, the City of Sacramento is activating cooling centers to offer relief from the heat.
Some spaces are opening specifically as weather respite centers; others are offering extended hours in public lobbies or are available for this use during regular business hours.
Public libraries and City of Sacramento community centers are open during their regular business hours, and people can use these air-conditioned buildings as places to cool off.
The City is extending operating hours at the Sam & Bonnie Pannell Community Center at 2450 Meadowview Road. The center will operate Friday, July 14, Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The site does not allow pets, and personal storage will be limited to what visitors can carry with them.
The City also is activating the Outreach and Engagement Center at 3615 Auburn Blvd. as a weather respite location. It will be open Friday, July 14, Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16, from 2 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following morning, ending Monday, July 17, at 7 a.m.
The OEC offers space for pets and belongings in addition to water, snacks and device recharging.
Sacramento Regional Transit is providing free transportation to and from weather respite centers during their operation, including the Pannell Center and the OEC.
To ride free, screenshot or print this SacRT Free Ride Flyer to Cooling Centers July 2023 and present it to the bus operator upon boarding, or show light rail fare inspection staff upon request. The pass is only valid to and from activated cooling centers.
Outreach staff from the City’s Department of Community Response have been notifying community members of the activations as they respond to 3-1-1 calls for service.
The City will continue to monitor the National Weather Service’s forecast and extend weather-respite operations as needed. The City will also monitor capacity at the respite spaces to determine if other activations are necessary.
Other nearby municipalities also are offering places to cool down. The days and hours of these operations vary. Please call 2-1-1 or visit https://www.211sacramento.org/211/.