MAINE, USA — The state of Maine is bracing this week for what could be the first major heat wave in two years.
NEWS CENTER Maine's weather team is predicting temperatures up into the 90s Tuesday through Thursday but said temperatures could reach as high as 105 inland with heat index.
Temperatures like this can be dangerous if you do not have ways to keep cool. The Maine Emergency Management Agency, or MEMA, posted on social media Monday announcing plans for cooling centers to open across the state.
Cooling centers are short-term facilities that offer a space for people to get out of the heat when temperatures reach potentially dangerous highs. To find a cooling center near you, click here.
How to keep your home cool and conserve energy
- Close your blinds
- Make sure your ceiling fan is spinning "counter-clockwise"
- Know when to leave the AC on when you aren't at home
- Choosing the right temperature for your thermostat
- Put window reflectors or aluminum foil over your windows in an emergency
Learn more about these Verified tips by clicking here.
Cooling Centers
This listing is not comprehensive but will be updated. Be sure to check with your town's or city's community services to find a location near you.
Androscoggin County
Auburn
- Norway Savings Bank Arena
- Open daily: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Auburn
- Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St.
- Thursday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lewiston
- Park Street Garage, 45 Park St.
- Wednesday-Thursday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lewiston
- SeniorPlus Education Center, 8 Falcon Road
- Tuesday: 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lisbon
- Lisbon Police Department, 300 Lisbon St.
- Tuesday-Friday: 8 a.m. until TBD
Aroostook County
Caribou
- Caribou Wellness/Rec Center, 55 Bennett Drive
- Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thursday: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Eagle Lake
- Eagle Lake Town Office
- 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fort Fairfield
- Fort Fairfield Public Library, Community Center
- Tuesday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Portage Lake
- Portage Lake Town Hall, 22 School St.
Presque Isle
- Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library, 39 Second St.
- 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 19
Presque Isle
- Sargent Family Community Center, 34 Chapman Road
- Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Wallagrass
- Wallagrass Community Center, 45 Church St
- Thursday -Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. (For more information, call Lana Voisine at 207-834-2263)
- Pets are welcome
Cumberland County
Bridgton
- Bridgton Community Center, 15 Depot St.
- Tuesday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Casco
- Casco Community Center, 940 Meadow Road
- Wednesday-Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gray
- Gray Public Library, 5 Hancock St.
- Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Gray
- Gray Newbegin Gym, 20 Main St.
- Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
North Yarmouth
- North Yarmouth Fire-Rescue, 463 Walnut Hill Road
- Wednesday-Friday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Portland
- Troubh Ice Arena, 225 Park Ave.
- Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Thursday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Portland
- Portland Downtown Library, 5 Monument Square
- Thursday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
South Portland
- South Portland City Hall
- Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
South Portland
- South Portland Public Library
- Tuesday, Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Westbrook
- Westbrook Community Center
- Wednesday: 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Franklin County
Kingsfield
- Webster Hall, Kingsfield Town Office, 38 School St.
- Tuesday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Kennebec County
Augusta
- Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Drive
- Tuesday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Chelsea
- Chelsea Town Office
- Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Gardiner
- Gardiner Public Library, 152 Water St.
- Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Waterville
- Waterville City Hall, 46 Front St.
- Wednesday-Thursday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Knox County
Rockland
- Rockland City Hall, 270 Pleasant St.
- Tuesday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday: 7:30 a.m. to noon
Lincoln County
Boothbay Harbor
- Boothbay YMCA, 261 Townsend Ave.
- Tuesday-Friday: 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Damariscotta
- Central Lincoln County YMCA, 575 Main St.
- Tuesday-Friday: 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Oxford County
Mexico
- Calvin Lyons Hall, 134 Main St.
- Wednesday: 12 to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 12 to 6 p.m.
Newry
- Newry Town Office, 422 Bear River Road
- Thursday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Office phone (207)-824-3123
Otisfield
- Otisfield Community Hall, 292 State St., Route 121
- Tuesday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Stow
- Stow Town Hall, 710 Stow Road
- Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thursday: 9 a.m. to noon
Penobscot County
Bangor
- Cross Insurance Center, Renewal by Andersen Entrance, 515 Main St. is open Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Mansion Church, 96 Center St., is open Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- HEART Community Center, 304 Hancock St. is open Tuesday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Brick Church, 126 Union St. is open Tuesday Through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Together Place, 2 Second St. is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where water and popsicles will be provided for people looking to cool down. (This location is scheduled to be closed Wednesday, but the center said it will be monitoring the weather to determine if it should open that day as well.)
- Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St. will be closed Wednesday in observance of Juneteenth, but is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Bangor City Hall, 262 Harlow Street, closed on Juneteenth but is open Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- The Bangor Housing Authority will have its splash pad on Davis Road, at the intersection with Downeast Circle, operating each weekday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- A sprinkler will also be set up on the Bangor Waterfront
Millinocket
- Millinocket Memorial Library
- Monday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Piscataquis County
Dover-Foxcroft
- Piscataquis Regional YMCA, 48 Park St.
- Tuesday-Thursday: 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Dover-Foxcroft
- Thompson Free Library, 186 East Main St.
- Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sagadahoc County
Bowdoinham
- Bowdoinham Fire Department, 57 Post Road
- Wednesday-Thursday: 12 to 8 p.m.
Richmond
- Richmond Senior Center, 314 Front St.
- Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bath
- Bath Police Department Lobby, 250 Water St.
- Wednesday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Waldo County
Brooks
- Varney Community Center
- Thursday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
York County
Arundel
- Arundel Town Hall, 257 Limerick Road
- Tuesday-Thursday: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Berwick
- Berwick Fire Department
- Tuesday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Biddeford
- Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center, 35 South St.
- Wednesday-Thursday: 1 to 5 p.m.
- Note: Location only for people experiencing homelessness
Buxton
- Buxton Town Office, 185 Portland Road
- Tuesday, Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cornish
- Cornish Municipal Office, 17 Maple St.
- Tuesday-Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Kennebunk
- Kennebunk Free Library, 112 Main St.
- Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kennebunkport
- Church On the Cape, 3 Langsford Rd.
- Wednesday-Thursday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Kittery
- Kittery Community Center, 120 Rogers Road
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Kittery
- Kittery Town Hall, 185 Rogers Road
- Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Kittery
- Rice Public Library, 8 Wentworth St.
- Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 12 to 8 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lebanon
- North Lebanon Baptist Church, 259 Bakers Grant Road
- Tuesday-Friday: 12 to 6 p.m.
Limington
- Limington Old Town Hall, 297 Sokokis Ave.
- Tuesday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
North Berwick
- D.A. Hurd Library
- Tuesday: 1 to 7 p.m.
- Wednesday: 12 to 4 p.m.
- Thursday 1 to 7 p.m.
Old Orchard Beach
- Old Orchard Beach Recreation Center
- Tuesday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Old Orchard Beach
- The Old Orchard Beach Salvation Army, 2 Sixth St.
- Tuesday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Parsonsfield
- Parsonsfield Town office
- Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thursday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saco
- Saco Transportation Center, 138 Main St.
- Wednesday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saco
- Saco Community Center, 75 Franklin St.
- Wednesday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Wells
- Wells-Ogunquit Senior Center, 300 Post Road
- Wednesday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
York
- York Center for Active Living, 36 Main St.
- Thursday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
York
- York Public Library, 15 Long Sands Road
- Thursday & Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
York Beach
- York Beach Fire Department, 15 Railroad Ave.
- Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you did not see a cooling center near you, click here for MEMA's full list.
Getting to a Cooling Center
If you know you will need assistance getting to a center, be sure to keep in mind that public transportation may be out of service Wednesday for the holiday. It's important to plan ahead. The Maine Emergency Mangement Agency offered tips for transportation and encouraged people to plan ahead by arranging for a ride with a family member, friend, or neighbor. Other options include a taxi, Uber, or bus.
If a Cooling Center is not open in your area, MEMA suggests going to a public place with air conditioning like a grocery store, restaurant, or library, to get some relief from the heat.
Who is at risk?
Some professions require workers to be outside for long periods of time or to work in hot environments—jobs such as construction, landscaping, agriculture, mail and package delivery, and oil and gas well operations.
"Most outdoor fatalities, 50% to 70%, occur in the first few days of working in warm or hot environments because the body needs to build a tolerance to the heat gradually over time. The process of building tolerance is called heat acclimatization. Lack of acclimatization represents a major risk factor for fatal outcomes," according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
If you work in hot conditions, make sure you know how to stay cool and keep hydrated for the upcoming heat wave.
Keeping your pets safe in the heat
The ASPCA lists signs of heatstroke in pets, including:
- Excessive panting or difficulty breathing
- Increased heart and respiratory rate
- Drooling
- Mild weakness
- Stupor
- Collapse
Safety Tips
- Do not leave your pet in the car on hot days
- Have your pet groomed to get rid of excessive fur
- Be mindful of hot pavement, put booties on your pet
- Keep them inside a cool home during extreme heat
For details, click here.
The Red Cross: 'How to Treat Heat Cramps'
Some people may experience heat cramps during these extreme temperatures. Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms that can occur during activity in a hot environment, according to the Mayo Clinic.
- Get the individual to a cooler place to rest
- Lightly stretch and massage the affected area
- Give the individual an electrolyte-containing drink such as a sports drink, fruit juice, or milk. Water can also be given, but never salt tablets.
For more information, click here.