Compared to the rest of the country, summers in the Pacific Northwest are usually very comfortable. However, when temperatures rise to dangerous levels for several days at a time, there is an increased health risk to people and pets, and fire risk to property.
Common heat-related illnesses are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating; weakness; cold, pale, and clammy skin; weak pulse; fainting; and vomiting. Signs of heat stroke include high body temperature (103° F or higher); hot, dry skin; rapid and strong pulse; and possible unconsciousness. Learn how to treat these symptoms and when to call 9-1-1.
Individuals who are at a higher risk of a heat-related illness include:
Older adults
Infants and young children
People with mental illness and chronic diseases
People with disabilities
People who are overweight
Those who work or exercise outdoors
People experiencing homelessness
Users of some medications, especially those taken for mental disorders, movement disorders, allergies, depression, and heart or circulatory problems
OPEN SEATTLE COOLING CENTERS AND OTHER WAYS TO COOL OFF
Libraries
The following Seattle Public Library locations are equipped with air conditioning, and serve as cooling centers when the area experiences extreme heat. Please call the individual location before you go for open hours and to verify that the air conditioning is working.
Central Library (1000 4th Ave) – 206-386-4636
Ballard (5614 22nd Ave NW) – 206-684-4089
Beacon Hill (2821 Beacon Ave S) – 206-684-4711
Broadview (12755 Greenwood Ave N) – 206-684-7519
Capitol Hill (425 Harvard Ave E) – 206-684-4715
Delridge (5423 Delridge Way SW) – 206-733-9125
Douglass-Truth (2300 E Yesler Way) – 206-684-4704
Greenwood (8016 Greenwood Ave N) – 206-684-4086
High Point (3411 SW Raymond St) – 206-684-7454
International District / Chinatown (713 8th Ave S) – 206-386-1300
Lake City (12501 28th Ave NE) – 206-684-7518
Madrona-Sally Goldmark (1134 33rd Ave) – 206-684-4705
Magnolia (2801 34th Ave W) – 206-386-4225
NewHolly (7058 32nd Ave S) – 206-386-1905
Northgate (10548 5th Ave NE) – 206-386-1980
Rainier Beach (9125 Rainier Ave S) – 206-386-1906
South Park (8604 8th Ave S) – 206-615-1688
Wallingford (1501 N 45th St) – 206-684-4088
Seattle Center (View the campus map PDF at http://www.seattlecenter.com/downloads/sc_map_color_gates.pdf)
Seattle Center Armory (Open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
International Fountain
Fountain of Creation (Dupen Fountain)
Senior Centers
The following senior centers have air conditioning or are relatively cool and are open to the public:
Greenwood Senior Center (525 N. 8th Street)
International Drop-In Center (7301 Beacon Ave S.)
Pike Market Senior Center and Food Bank (85 Pike St, #200)
Ballard NW Senior Center (5429 32nd Ave NW)
Southeast Seattle Senior Center (4655 South Holly St)
The Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon St)
South Park Senior Center (8201 10th Ave S)
Wallingford Community Senior Center (4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Suite 140)
The Central (500 30th Ave S)
Asian Counseling and Referral Service Senior Center (3639 Martin Luther King Way S.)
Sunshine Garden Chinese Senior Community Center (611 S. Lane St.) housed in the Chinese Information and Service Center.
Pools and Water Areas
Four-day-a-week Wading Pools (both are open noon to 6:45 p.m.):
Hiawatha Community Center, 2700 California Ave. SW, Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat
Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW, Mon/Tues/Sat/Sun
Three-day-a-week Wading Pools (all are open from noon to 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted):
Bitter Lake, 13035 Linden Ave. N, Wed/Thu/Fri
Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave., noon to 6:45 p.m., Fri/Sat/Sun
Dahl Playfield, 7700 25th Ave. NE, Tues/Wed/Thurs
East Queen Anne, 160 Howe St., Sun/Mon/Tue
E.C. Hughes, 2805 SW Holden St., Wed/Thu/Fri
Soundview, 1590 NW 90th St., Sat/Sun/Mon
South Park, 8319 8th Ave. S, Mon/Tue/Wed
Wallingford, 4219Wallingford Ave. N, Wed/Thu/Fri
Daily Wading Pools (all are open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted):
Green Lake, N 73rd and E Green Lake Dr. N
Lincoln Park, 8600 Fauntleroy Ave. SW
Magnuson, eastern end of NE 65th St., noon to 6:30 p.m.
Van Asselt, 2820 S Myrtle St.
Volunteer Park, 1400 E Galer St.
Daily Water Spray Parks (all are open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted):
Ballard Commons, 5701 22nd Ave. NW
Beacon Mountain at Jefferson Park, 3901 Beacon Ave. S
John C. Little, 6961 37th Ave. S
Lower Judkins, 2150 S Norman St.
Georgetown Playfield, 750 S Homer St.
Highland Park, 1100 SW Cloverdale
Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave. N
Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E
Northacres Park, 12800 1st Ave. NE
Pratt Park, 1800 S Main St.
Lifeguarded Beaches (noon to 7 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays)
Matthews, 9300 51st Ave. NE
Madison, 1900 43rd Ave. E
Mt. Baker, 2301 Lake Washington Blvd. S
Seward, 5902 Lake Washington Blvd. S
West Green Lake, 7312 W Green Lake Dr.
East Green Lake, 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N
Magnuson, park entrance at NE 65th and Sand Point Way NE
Madrona, 853 Lake Washington Blvd.
Pritchard Beach, 8400 55th Ave. S
Outdoor Pools
“Pop” Mounger Pool, 2535 32nd Ave. W, daily, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., call 206-684-4708 for public swim times
Colman Pool, 8603 Fauntleroy Way SW, daily, noon to 7 p.m., call 206-684-7494 for public swim times