A stretch of hot weather is headed for Pierce County. Are we in for another heat dome?
In summer 2021, the Pacific Northwest experienced a record-breaking heat bubble that had Pierce County residents suffering from unprecedented heat and smoke levels.
Texas is currently experiencing a similar bubble, with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit all over that state.
With temperatures in Tacoma expected to reach upwards of 90 degrees this week, do Pierce County residents need to prepare for another heat dome?
“We’re not expecting those kinds of events to come along very often at all,” Nicholas Bond, Washington’s state climatologist, told The News Tribune in a recent interview. “It was a perfect storm, kind of pun intended, of everything to make it hot.”
Bond said weather similar to 2021 can be predicted weeks in advance.
“It may be many years before we see something that intense,” Bond said. “People shouldn’t be surprised when these heat waves come around because, at least in the short term, we have the ability to forecast them.”
Still, temperatures will be what Northwesterners consider hot in the coming week, so how can Pierce County residents stay cool?
Cooling Centers
If temperatures hit 90 degrees in Tacoma, cooling centers will activate around the city.
“You tend to see an increase of folks who come in on those days,” said Amita Lonial, Tacoma Public Libraries assistant library director. “When people come in and they are with us, we can give them out some bottles of water.”
All Tacoma public libraries will be supplied with water bottles. Libraries are air-conditioned, providing a cool refuge for folks without air conditioning in their homes.
Tacoma Public Library locations can be found at the library’s website. Libraries are open from noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
They are not open on Mondays and Sundays. The main branch is only open for lobby services due to facility updates.
Tacoma’s Spray Parks
Looking for a fun yet effective way cool off? Tacoma has 10 spray parks around the city. All spray park locations can be found at https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/staycool253/.
Heat Tips to Stay Cool
Here are Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department recommendations for staying cool on hot summer days:
Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun.
Dress in lightweight clothing.
Take cool showers or baths.
Don’t rely solely on fans to keep you cool. Electric fans can provide some comfort, but when temperatures are hot, they don’t prevent heat-related illness.
Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.
Visit a cooling center. Spend time at a shopping mall, grocery store or public location—even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help.
Stay inside during the hottest times of the day (afternoon and early evening).
Check on your elderly neighbors and relatives, and encourage them to keep cool and hydrated.
Heat Stroke Symptoms
It’s important to be aware of the symptoms of heat stroke to help yourself and those around you.
The City of Tacoma has listed symptoms for residents to watch out for:
Cold, pale and clammy skin
Heavy sweating
Fainting or passing out
Dizziness
Fatigue
Fast, weak pulse
Tiredness or weakness
Muscle cramps
Nausea or vomiting
Headache
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend moving someone to a cool spot and calling 911 right away if you suspect they are suffering from heat stroke.
More resources for staying out of the heat from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department can be found at https://www.tpchd.org/healthy-places/emergency-preparedness/keep-cool.
This story was originally published July 3, 2023 at 5:20 AM.
