As summer temperatures hover near 90 degrees over the coming days, the City of Seattle is providing information on how to stay safe in the heat and the locations of public spaces that may be used to stay cool during the high temperatures.

Hot weather can put some people and pets at risk. Here are some tips to stay safe and a list of public places in Seattle to cool off. 

Stay Hydrated

• Drink plenty of water. Have a beverage with you at all times, and sip or drink frequently. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
• Reduce, eliminate, or re-schedule strenuous outdoor activities without if you can. If you must exercise outdoors try to do it early in the morning or late evening.
• Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol and large amounts of sugar because they can dehydrate your body.

Keep Kids Safe

Never leave infants or children in vehicles unattended – even with the windows  down. Temperatures rise quickly in vehicles, even when the outside temperature is 60 degrees a vehicle's interior can easily heat up to 110 degrees.

Protect Pets

Pets are especially vulnerable in high heat and the Seattle Animal Shelter recommends the following:

• Never leave your animal unattended in direct sunlight. Provide a shady area for retreat and remember shaded areas move with the sun. Provide access to cool water at all times.
• If you leave animals indoors, open screened windows, keep a fan running, provide plenty of water, and, if possible, leave them in a cool location.
• Never leave animals unattended in a vehicle. Temperatures rise quickly leaving them trapped and unable to escape the heat. Under Washington state law an animal control officer or law enforcement officer has the authority to remove an animal from a vehicle by any means necessary if the animal is suffering or is likely to suffer from exposure to excessive heat and the owner may be charged with animal cruelty.
• Avoid overexerting your animal in hot weather. Exercise is fine when taken in moderation, but extreme heat conditions, obesity, old age, breed and underlying disease can predispose an animal to the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Hot pavement can quickly burn sensitive paws.
• For birds, take caution and place the bird’s cage away from direct sunlight during the intense heat of the afternoon. Provide water and fruits and vegetables with high moisture content.
• Smaller furred pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs can overheat easily. Snacks such as cucumber, melon or any watery vegetable can help keep them hydrated. Frozen water bottles can give them something cool to lie next to or near.

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 to verify open hours:

Central Library (1000 4th Ave.) – 206.386.4636
Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Ballard (5614 22nd Ave. N.W.) – 206.684.4089
Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Beacon Hill (2821 Beacon Ave. S.) – 206.684.4711
Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Broadview (12755 Greenwood Ave. N.) – 206.684.7519
Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Capitol Hill (425 Harvard Ave. E.) – 206.684.4715
Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Delridge (5423 Delridge Way S.W.) – 206.733.9125
Monday and Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday: Closed, Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Douglass-Truth (2300 E. Yesler Way) – 206.684.4704
Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Greenwood (8016 Greenwood Ave. N.) – 206.684.4086
Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

High Point (3411 S.W. Raymond St.) – 206.684.7454
Monday and Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday – Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

International District / Chinatown (713 8th Ave. S.) – 206.386.1300
Monday and Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday – Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Madrona-Sally Goldmark (1134 33rd Ave.) – 206.684.4705
Monday and Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday: Closed, Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Magnolia (2801 34th Ave. W.) – 206.386.4225
Monday and Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday: Closed, Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Montlake Branch (2401 24th Ave. E.) – 206.684.4720
Monday and Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday: Closed, Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

New Holly (7058 32nd Ave. S.) – 206.386.1905
Monday and Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday: Closed, Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Northgate (10548 5th Ave. N.E.) – 206.386.1980
Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Rainier Beach (9125 Rainier Ave. S.) – 206.386.1906
Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

South Park (8604 8th Ave. S.) – 206.615.1688
Monday and Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday – Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Wallingford (1501 N. 45th St.) – 206.684.4088
Monday and Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday: Closed, Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Seattle Center 
The Seattle Center Armory is equipped with air conditioning and will serve as a cooling center when the area experiences extreme heat. 

Seattle Center Armory (Open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday)

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. Please call the individual location before you go for open hours:

Asian Counseling and Referral Service Senior Center (3639 Martin Luther King Way S.) – 206.695.7600

Ballard NW Senior Center (5429 32nd Ave. NW) – 206.297.0403

Central Area Senior Center (500 30th Ave. S) – 206.726.4926

Greenwood Senior Center (525 N. 85th Street) – 206.297.0875

International Drop-In Center (7301 Beacon Ave. S.) – 206.587.3735

Pike Market Senior Center and Food Bank (85 Pike St, #200) – 206.728.2773

The Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon St) – 206.932.4044

Southeast Seattle Senior Center (4655 South Holly St) – 206.722.0317

South Park Senior Center (8201 10th Ave. S. #4) – 206.767.2544

Sunshine Garden Chinese Senior Community Center (611 S. Lane St.) housed in the Chinese Information and Service Center – 206.624.5633

Wallingford Community Senior Center (4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Suite 140) – 206.461.7825

Pools and Water Areas
Four-day-a-week Wading Pools open noon to 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted:

Hiawatha Community Center, 2700 California Ave. SW, Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat, noon to 6:30 p.m. through August 18

Bitter Lake Community Center, 13035 Linden Ave. N, Tue/Wed/Thurs/Fri through August 17

South Park Community Center, 8319 8th Ave. S, Mon/Tue/Wed/Thurs through August 16

Three-day-a-week Wading Pools (all are open from noon to 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted):

Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave., noon to 6:30 p.m., Fri/Sat/Sun through August 19

Dahl Playfield, 7700 25th Ave. NE, Tues/Wed/Thurs through August 16

East Queen Anne, 160 Howe St., Sun/Mon/Tue through August 19

E.C. Hughes, 2805 SW Holden St., Wed/Thu/Fri through August 17

Soundview, 1590 NW 90th St., Sat/Sun/Mon through August 19

Wallingford, 4219Wallingford Ave. N, Wed/Thu/Fri through August 17

Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW, Sun/Mon/Tue, noon to 6:30 p.m. through August 19

Two-day-a-week Wading Pools (all are open noon to 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted):

Beacon Hill, 1902 13th Ave. S, Wed/Thurs through August 16

Gilman Playground, 926 NW 54th St., Fri/Sat through August 18

Peppi’s Playground, 3233 E Spruce St., Mon/Tue through August 14

Powell Barnett Park, 352 Martin Luther King Way, Sat/Sun through August 19

Ravenna Park, 5520 Ravenna Ave. NE, Fri/Sat through August 18

Sandel Playground, 9053 1st Ave. NW, Tue/Wed, noon to 6:30 p.m. through August 15

View Ridge Playfield, 4408 NE 70th St., Mon/Sun through August 19

Daily Wading Pools (all are open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through September 3 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., 12:15 to 6:30 p.m. through August 26

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. through September 3):

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

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 through September 5

Madison, 1900 43rd Ave. E through September 5

Mt. Baker, 2301 Lake Washington Blvd. S through September 5

Seward, 5902 Lake Washington Blvd. S through September 5

West Green Lake, 7312 W Green Lake Dr. through September 5

East Green Lake, 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N through August 28

Magnuson, park entrance at NE 65th and Sand Point Way NE through August 28

Madrona, 853 Lake Washington Blvd. through August 28

Pritchard Beach, 8400 55th S through August 28

Outdoor Pools

“Pop” Mounger Pool, 2535 32nd W, daily, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., call 206.684.4708 for public swim times. Open through September 9.

Colman Pool, 8603 Fauntleroy Way SW, daily, noon to 7 p.m., call 206.684.7494 for public swim times. Open through September 3 and on Sept. 8-9.

Additional Resources

Tips from Public Health – Seattle & King County

Tips from Seattle Fire Department