Atlanta opening cooling center through Friday evening

June 30, 2023 Atlanta: A hazy sunrise greeted workers at 480 17th St. in Atlanta Where CBG construction workers are building an apartment complex. The heat was on Friday, June 30, 2023 as temperatures again reached into the mid 90s. Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Ashley Kramlich said that typical high temperatures are in the upper 80s this time of year but Friday’s temperatures soared into the mid-90’s. “And it’s only going up from here,” Kramlich said of the heat forecast headed into July Fourth. “On top of that, humidity is increasing, that’s going to lead to dangerous heat index levels throughout the weekend, and we have a chance for a few showers and thunderstorms in the forecast. A Code Orange air quality alert was issued again Friday as an hazy Atlanta skyline had the Canada wild fires and heat as contributors. Under those conditions, the outdoor air quality is likely to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children and people with heart or lung disease. Those groups should limit prolonged outdoor exertion during the late afternoon or early evening when ozone concentrations are highest, according to the National Weather Service. (John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com)

Credit: John Spink

Credit: John Spink

June 30, 2023 Atlanta: A hazy sunrise greeted workers at 480 17th St. in Atlanta Where CBG construction workers are building an apartment complex. The heat was on Friday, June 30, 2023 as temperatures again reached into the mid 90s. Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Ashley Kramlich said that typical high temperatures are in the upper 80s this time of year but Friday’s temperatures soared into the mid-90’s. “And it’s only going up from here,” Kramlich said of the heat forecast headed into July Fourth. “On top of that, humidity is increasing, that’s going to lead to dangerous heat index levels throughout the weekend, and we have a chance for a few showers and thunderstorms in the forecast. A Code Orange air quality alert was issued again Friday as an hazy Atlanta skyline had the Canada wild fires and heat as contributors. Under those conditions, the outdoor air quality is likely to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children and people with heart or lung disease. Those groups should limit prolonged outdoor exertion during the late afternoon or early evening when ozone concentrations are highest, according to the National Weather Service. (John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com)

Atlanta is opening a temporary cooling center to support residents amid the heat wave.

The center will open Thursday and Friday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Water will be provided at the center.

The cooling center will be located at the Old MLK Natatorium at 90 Boulevard, NE Atlanta, GA 30312.

Morning temperatures were already at or near the 80-degree mark across metro Atlanta Thursday, said Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Ashley Kramlich. If the city reaches 97 this afternoon, it would make Thursday the hottest day so far this year, Kramlich said, beating out the 96-degree high on July 1. The record high for this date is 100 degrees, set back in 1986.

At 91% humidity, the heat index will reach 104 degrees in the city, Kramlich said. Areas south and east of the metro are all under a heat advisory as they will see even higher feels-like temperatures. Some areas could see heat index values up to 110 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.