What months are the cooling centers open?

The cooling center "season" usually runs from late May/early June through September, but the formal schedule will be announced close to when the season starts.

How do you decide whether to open a cooling center on a given day?

The decision is based on the National Weather Services (NWS) forecast from the previous day - see Forecast Used section below.

Temperature requirements (how hot does it have to be?)

• San Joaquin and Kern River Valley: 105+ degrees
• Desert Areas: 108+ degrees
• Frazier Park: 93+ degrees

Forecast Used (when do you decide?)

• For Saturday, Sunday: the last working day before the weekend, normally Friday
• For days following holidays: the previous working day or the previous Sunday for holidays that fall on a Monday County Holidays (PDF)

What hours are the cooling centers open?

The centers are open from 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. unless stated otherwise.

Who do I contact with questions?

For additional information, contact:
Kern County Aging & Adult Services at 800-510-2020