Authorities Warn Local Residents of Heat Wave

A heat wave is coming. And Los Angeles County officials are putting out warnings to residents to be prepared and directing people to cooling centers.

National Weather Service officials in the San Diego office have issued a special weather statement in anticipation of prolonged period of high temperatures.

Today’s high was expected to reach 87 degrees. By Monday, the area was supposed to warm up to 91 degrees. By Tuesday, the area, including Diamond Bar, Walnut and the surrounding area, will hit about 97 degrees or higher and remain that hot Wednesday.

Other parts of the country have already been enduring a heat wave that has killed upwards of 30 people, according to an Associated Press report.

Temperatures soared in more than 20 states. Louisville, Ky., saw 105 degrees. It hit 101 in Philadelphia, and 95 in New York. A record of 104 was set in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Baltimore set a record at 102, according to the Associated Press.

Three elderly people found dead in their houses in Ohio had heart disease, but died of high temperatures in homes lacking power because of outages, according to reports. Heat also played a role in the deaths of three in Wisconsin, two in Tennessee and three in Pennsylvania.

The heat has also caused highways to buckle in Illinois and Wisconsin, officials said. In Maryland, investigators said heat likely caused rails to kink and led a commuter train to partially derail in Prince George’s County on Friday afternoon. No one was injured, and 55 passengers were safely evacuated.

Locally, the temperatures were expected to stay in the 90's. The areas closer to the city of Los Angeles were expected to linger closer to 80 degrees, according to online information through the weather service. But the deserts will see 100-plus degree weather. Victorville is expected to hit 103 degress on Tuesday. In Palm Springs, Tuesday's high was expected to hit 113 degrees.

A list cooling centers re-released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department includes the Diamond Bar Library, which closed at the end of last month while officials move to the new facility on Copley Drive.

Anyone who does not have or cannot afford to run air conditioning can visit the Walnut Library at 21155 La Puente Road.

Sheriff’s officials also offer the following tips on how to beat the heat.

• Avoid the sun from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., when the burning rays are strongest.
• Reduce physical activity.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and light colored lightweight, loose-fitting clothes when you are outdoors
• Avoid hot, heavy meals that include proteins.
• Set your air conditioner between 75° to 80°. If you don’ t have air conditioning take a cool shower twice a day and visit a public air-conditioned facility.
• Drink plenty of fluids even if you are not thirsty. Avoid alcohol.
• Use sun screen with a sun protect ion factor of at least 15 if you need to be in the sun.

Don’ t forget about your pets, they need plenty of water and shade, officials said.

Symptoms of dehydration and heat cramps include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps and increased thirst.

If you want to visit a cooling center, we include a list of centers with this story. They include:

Claremont

• Alexander Hughes Community Center, 1700 Danbury Road. (909) 399-5490
• Blaisdell Senior Center, 440 S. College Ave. (909) 399-5367
• Claremont Library, 208 North Harvard Ave. (909) 621-4902
• Joslyn Senior Center, Claremont, 660 N. Mountain Ave. (909) 399-5488

Pomona

• Palomares Park Community Center, 499 East Arrow Hwy. (909) 620-2324
• Washington Community Center, 865 E. Grand Ave. (909) 620-2324
• Westmont Community Center, 1808 West Ninth Street. (909) 620-2324