MoCo officials urge residents to ‘look out for one another’ during heat wave
Temperatures to top 100 degrees as July 4 holiday approaches; cooling centers will be available
By
Ceoli JacobyJuly 1, 2026 10:35 a.m.
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With the July 4 holiday approaching and temperatures climbing to dangerous levels, Montgomery County officials on Tuesday urged residents to take precautions and look out for one another in the coming days.
Montgomery County will be under a heat advisory from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, when temperatures are expected to reach 99 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
An extreme heat watch will be in effect from Thursday morning through Friday evening, when temperatures are expected to top 100 degrees. The heat index, or “feels like” temperature, is expected to be as high as 110 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Heat advisories are issued for dangerous heat conditions that don’t meet the extreme heat threshold. The National Weather Service issues an extreme heat watch when an extreme heat event is expected, but the timing is uncertain.
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“We are calling on all our residents to look out for one another,” county Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Earl Stoddard said during a Tuesday press conference at the Isiah “Ike” Leggett Executive Office Building in Rockville. “Our first responders are going to be available to help people in need — allow them to focus on the people who are most vulnerable amongst us. We need people who can show a little bit of discretion and caution to please do so.”
During the heat wave, everyone should stay indoors when possible, wear sun protection outdoors, drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine and alcohol. Dr. Kisha Davis, the county’s chief health officer, said certain populations — including the elderly, pregnant individuals, young children and people with chronic illnesses — need to take extra precautions.
“Extreme heat impacts everyone, but it is lethal for some,” Davis said. “If you have an elderly neighbor or family member who lives alone or lacks air conditioning, check on them twice a day. A quick phone call or knock on the door can truly save a life.”
Signs of heat-related illness
Davis also said it is important for people — especially those who will be working or recreating outdoors during the heat wave — to understand the signs of heat-related illness.
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Heat exhaustion means the body is overheating, according to Davis. Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea and clamminess. People experiencing heat exhaustion should move to a cool area, loosen clothing and sip on water, Davis said.
Heat stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency that happens when the body loses the ability to cool itself down, Davis said. Signs of heat stroke include a body temperature higher than 103 degrees, rapid pulse, confusion, lack of sweating, passing out and seizures.
If people see someone experiencing heat stroke, they should call 911 immediately, Davis said. Bystanders can further help by moving the person into the shade and cooling them with wet cloths or ice. The person should not be forced to drink water, Davis said.
Maryland has a heat stress standard that applies to all workplaces where employees are exposed to a heat index above 80 degrees. The standard requires employers to provide cool drinking water and shade to employees near the work site.
Workers have a right to paid, 10-minute breaks once every two hours when the heat index is between 90 and 100 degrees, according to the Maryland Department of Labor. When the heat index is above 100 degrees, workers have a right to paid, 15-minute breaks every hour.
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People who are working in extreme heat should hydrate before they are scheduled to be on the job, Davis said. Those who need to wear long sleeves for protection should choose lighter materials and colors.
Officials also cautioned against leaving vulnerable people and pets unattended in parked cars, even with a window open.
If people see a child or animal unattended in a parked car during the heat wave, they should call 911, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Battalion Chief Tony Scott said during Tuesday’s news conference.
Last May, a 2-year-old girl died after police said she was accidentally left in a parked car outside a residence in the Wheaton-Glenmont area. County Council President Natali Fani-González (D-Dist. 6), whose district includes the area, said the incident sticks in her mind.
“Even if you think, ‘I’m going to leave my child in the car for two minutes, because I’m going to go and buy some milk,’ that two minutes can cost a child’s life,” Fani-González said.
Holiday schedules
On Wednesday and Thursday, county facilities such as senior centers, recreation centers, libraries and indoor and outdoor pools will be open to the public, Recreation Director Gabe Albornoz said during Tuesday’s press conference.
Most county facilities will be closed Friday and Saturday for the July 4 holiday. Some facilities will remain open as cooling centers. As of Tuesday afternoon, the list of cooling centers was still being finalized, county spokesperson Scott Peterson told Bethesda Today.
Due to the extreme heat, the county plans to shift its fireworks shows at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington on July 3 and at the South Germantown Recreational Park on July 4 from 7 to 7:30 p.m., Albornoz said Tuesday.
“We anticipate that the temperatures — while it will be uncomfortable and absolutely will be hot — they won’t reach those same dangerous levels that they will during the course of the entire day,” Albornoz said of the evening fireworks show.
According to Albornoz, the last time the county cancelled its July 4 fireworks show was in the aftermath of the 2012 derecho when power outages were still widespread.
Unless weather conditions change significantly, Albornoz said, the shows will go on this year. The county will notify residents of any changes as far in advance as possible.
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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine