What months are the cooling centers open?

The cooling center "season" usually runs from mid May 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.

Who do I contact with questions?

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