Beat the Heat at NoHo Cooling Center

With temperatures expected to top 100 degrees over the weekend in parts of Los Angeles, the city's Recreation and Parks Department today announced the opening of six cooling centers and issued recommendations for coping with extreme heat.

The cooling centers at senior citizen facilities across the San Fernando Valley -- in North Hollywood, Panorama City, Sunland, Sylmar, Sherman Oaks and Northridge -- will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The North Hollywood Senior Center is located at the corner of Chandler Boulevard and Tujunga Avenue at the North Hollywood Recreation Center and is next door. 

Department spokeswoman Andrea Epstein said the move is precautionary.

The National Weather Service has not issued an excessive heat warning, meaning the heat index is expected to remain below 105 degrees.

Epstein said all of the city's recreation and park buildings, libraries and more than 20 senior centers will be open and available as cooling centers during their normal hours of operations.

If a warning is issued, she said, the city Emergency Management Department will order city facilities to open early and stay open later than scheduled.

Recreation and Parks also issued a bulletin with recommendations for coping with high temperatures. They include:

-- drink plenty of water and limit alcohol consumption;

-- stay indoors as much as possible;

-- raise thermostats to 78 degrees to reduce energy usage;

-- avoid cooking during the hottest part of the day;

-- open windows at night to allow cooler air to circulate; and

-- check on seniors, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning

Epstein said city officials would be monitoring the weather throughout the weekend and would provide additional updates and resources if the situation warrants.