The splash pad in Minden Park is going to get a lot more popular this weekend as temperatures soar. This photo of the pad was taken on the Fourth of July by Minden resident Robin Sarantos.
With a forecast high temperature of 103 degrees in Minden for Saturday, the heat will drive Carson Valley residents to seek out cool spots to spend the weekend. The go-to for many residents is to head for the hills.
The high temperature is forecast to hit 85 degrees at Kirkwood, while Stateline’s highs are predicted to hit 88 degrees on Saturday and Sunday.
However, with Celebrity Golf at Lake Tahoe this week, crowds might prompt Carson Valley residents to seek other places to cool down.
The Minden Park Splash Pad is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. when there aren’t special events in the park. For more information visit townofminden.com
Another cool spot is Carson Valley Swim Center in Minden.
“It's always fun to play on the fact that we are the ‘coolest’ place to hang out,” said Director Shannon Harris. “Main indoor and outdoor pool temps are 81 degrees.”
The center is open seven days a week, with public swim 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
For more information on the pools, visit cvswim.com or call 775-782-8840.
The county issued an advisory to residents and visitors for the heat wave.
“Douglas County would like to advise our residents and visitors to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun during the hottest period of the day, and check up on those relatives and neighbors who are heat vulnerable,” said county spokesman Eric Cachinero. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Car interiors in hot weather can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”
The community centers in Gardnerville and at Stateline will have air conditioning and may provide cooling shelters during business hours over the weekend.
“Due to current renovations at the Douglas County Community and Senior Center, the gym will be open, and the senior center closed,” Cachinero said.
Both the Douglas County Community & Senior Center and Kahle Park and Community Center are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
With the rivers still swollen by snowmelt, forecasters are recommending people use caution around rivers and streams which continue to run cold and fast.
Hot conditions will dry out fine fuels and increase the chance for wildfires, forecasters said.
“Human-caused fire starts are on the rise over the past couple of weeks,” said National Weather Service Reno Meteorologist Edan Weishahn.
High temperatures can also cause power outages, particularly during the hottest part of the day, which could affect residents, close stores, banks and gas stations.
For more information on preparing for high temperatures, visit ready.gov/heat.
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Just watching the temperatures rise in the weekend forecast is sufficient to break a sweat.
As of Tuesday morning, Saturday is expected to hit a high temperature of 102 degrees, up a degree from Monday’s forecast.
While easily making it the hottest temperature forecast for 2023, so far, it is still a degree off the record set during the 10-day heat wave of 2005, which started 18 years ago Wednesday.
That July 12-21 period set four new high temperature records peaking with three days in a row hitting 104 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
An excessive heat watch for the Sierra Eastern Slope was issued by the Weather Service on Monday and expanded to include everywhere from the coast to Pershing and Churchill counties in Nevada, with the exception of the Sierra from Truckee to Mammoth.
“Both record highs and record warm lows are possible through the
weekend and the excessive heat watch remains in effect,” National Weather Service Meteorologist Dawn Johnson said on Tuesday morning. “Needless to say, heat health related impacts are nearly certain for sensitive individuals, with much of the general population impacted as well during the heat of the afternoon. Be sure to stay hydrated and try to limit outdoor exertion to the early morning or late evening hours.”
The watch anticipates “dangerously hot conditions with high temperatures into triple digits for lower valleys and record high temperatures possible.”
