Extreme heat events (heat waves) occur when temperatures are much hotter and/or more humid than average. In Thurston County, many homes lack air conditioning and our region’s population is not as accustomed to hot summer temperatures. Extreme heat can cause illness or even death, especially for those at high risk.

Washington Department of Health reported 100 heat-related deaths in the state, including six in Thurston County, during the Pacific Northwest Heat Dome from June 26 to July 2, 2021. Smaller-scale extreme heat events have been occurring nearly every year in the region, and are expected to increase in the coming years.

Please visit our cooling centers page for a list of places open to the public to cool down during hot weather.

For more information about extreme heat’s health impacts, please visit Thurston County Public Health & Social Service’s Heat Safety page.

For information about extreme heat forecasting, please visit the National Weather Service's HeatRisk page.