Cooling centers available across Maryland as heat wave sets in

Cooling centers are open across Maryland as a heat wave is expected to send temperatures into the triple digits going into the Fourth of July weekend. 

WJZ's First Alert Weather Team has declared Alert Days between Wednesday, July 1, and Saturday, July 4, for extreme heat. 

In Baltimore, health officials launched Code Red Extreme Heat Season, a multi-agency effort to keep residents safe from dangerous heat during the summer. The Code Red season lasts through September 15. 

Heat-related illness

In 2025, Baltimore recorded 14 Code Red Extreme Days and eight heat-related deaths. 

Across the state, a total of 34 heat-related deaths were reported, representing a nearly 25% increase from 2024, when 27 deaths were reported, according to the state Department of Health.

Last year, heat deaths spiked as parts of Maryland experienced multiple days with feels-like temperatures of 100 degrees or more. 

"With heat waves becoming more frequent, more severe and lasting longer, we can continue to see increases in heat stroke deaths over the next few years as well," said Dr. Cheyenne Falat, the Assistant Medical Director of the Adult Emergency Department at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Older adults, babies, children, pregnant people and individuals with pre-existing health issues are more at risk of experiencing heat-related illnesses during times of extreme heat, according to city health officials. 

During hot days, individuals are urged to drink plenty of water, reduce time outside, check on vulnerable neighbors and ensure children are not left alone in the car. 

Pet owners are urged to provide lots of shade and water, limit exercise outside, and watch for signs of heatstroke. 

Cooling centers in Maryland 

The following counties have cooling centers available during extreme heat days. 

Anne Arundel County

The following police stations in Anne Arundel County act as cooling centers and have air conditioning, water and restrooms available: 

• Northern District Police Station at 939 Hammonds Lane in Baltimore
• Eastern District Police Station at 204 Pasadena Road in Pasadena 
• Western District Police Station at 8273 Telegraph Road in Odenton
• Southern District Police Station at 35 Stepneys Lane in Edgewater

The following activity centers (excluding the Severn location) are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 pm.: 

• Annapolis Senior Activity Center: 119 South Villa Avenue, Annapolis
• Brooklyn Park Senior Activity Center: 202 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park
• O'Malley Senior Activity Center: 1275 Odenton Road, Odenton
• Pasadena Senior Activity Center: 4103 Mountain Road, Pasadena
• Pascal Senior Activity Center: 125 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie
• Severn Senior Activity Center: 1160A Reece Road, Severn (open Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
• South County Senior Activity Center: 27 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater

The following public libraries can be used as cooling centers Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: 

• Broadneck: 1275 Green Holly Drive, Annapolis
• Brooklyn Park: 1 East 11th Avenue, Baltimore
• Busch Annapolis: 1410 West Street, Annapolis 
• Crofton: 1681 Riedel Road, Crofton
• Deale: 5940 Deale-Churchton Road, Deale
• Discoveries: The Library at the Mall: 2550 Annapolis Mall Road, Annapolis
• Eastport-Annapolis Neck: 269 Hillsmere Drive, Annapolis
• Edgewater: 25 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater
• Glen Burnie: 1010 Eastway, Glen Burnie
• Linthicum: 400 Shipley Road, Linthicum
• Maryland City at Russett: 3501 Russett Common, Laurel 
• Mountain Road: 4115 Mountain Road, Pasadena 
• Odenton: 1325 Annapolis Road, Odenton
• Riviera Beach: 1130 Duvall Hwy. Pasadena 
• Severn: 2624 Annapolis Road, Severn 
• Severna Park: 45 West McKinsey Road, Severna Park

Baltimore City 

In Baltimore, the following senior centers will serve as cooling centers on Code Red Extreme Heat Days between Monday and Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.:

• Harford Senior Center at 4920 Harford Road 
• Hatton Senior Center at 2825 Fait Ave.
• Oliver Senior Center at 1700 Gay St.
• Sandtown Winchester Senior Center at 1601 Baker St. 
• Zeta Center for Healthy and Active Aging at 4501 Reisterstown Rd.  

The following Mayor's Office of Homeless Services (MOHS) locations will serve as cooling centers on Extreme Heat days:

• Beans & Bread at 400 S. Bond St. is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• My Sisters Place Women's Center (open to women and children only) at 17 W. Franklin St. is open every day, including Sunday and holidays, from 10 a.m. to  5 p.m.  
• Manna House at 435 E. 25th St. is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• Franciscan Center at 101 W. 23rd St. is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• Weinberg Housing & Resource Center (WHRC) at 620 Fallsway is open every day, including Sunday and holidays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The following locations will also serve as cooling centers between Thursday, July 2, and Saturday, July 4:

• Cherry Hill Homes at 2700 Spelman Rd is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Brooklyn Homes at 4140 10th St. is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• ShopRite of Howard Park  at 4601 Liberty Heights Ave. is open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. 
• Herring Run Recreation Center at 5001 Sinclair Ln. is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, and from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4
• C.C. Jackson Recreation Center at 4910 Park Heights Ave. is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 2; noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3; and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 4
• Coldstream Recreation Center at 1401 Fillmore St. is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, and from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4
• The Chick Webb Recreation Center at 632 Eden St. is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 2; from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3; and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. om Saturday, July 4
• The Morrell Park Recreation Center at 2651 Tolley St. is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 2; and from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4
• Robert C. Marshall Recreation Center at 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 and from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4
• Edgewood/Lyndhurst Recreation Center at  835 Allendale St. is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, from noon to 11 p.m. on Friday, July 3, and from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 4 
• The Mora Crossman Recreation Center at 701 Rappolla St. is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, and from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4
• The Virginia S. Baker Recreation Center at 2601 E. Baltimore St. is open from  6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 2; and from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4
• The Middle Branch Recreation Center at 201 Reedbird Ave. is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 2; from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 3; and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 4
• The Solo Gibbs Recreation Center at 1044 Leadenhall St. is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, and from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4
• The Woodhome Recreation Center at 7310 Moyer Ave. is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 2; and from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4
• The Cahill Recreation Center at 4001 Clifton Ave. is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 3, from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3, and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 4

Baltimore County 

Baltimore County residents are urged to use the following locations as cooling centers during periods of extreme heat: 

• Churches
• Community centers
• Libraries
• Malls, i.e. Towson Town Center
• Museums
• Restaurants
• Senior centers
• All Baltimore County Public Library locations open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• County recreation centers are open Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Senior Centers open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Howard County 

The following Howard County community centers will serve as cooling locations: 

• Gary J. Arthur Community Center at 2400 MD 97, Cooksville is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
• North Laurel Community Center at 9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd, Laurel is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
• Roger Carter Community Center at 3000 Milltowne Dr, Ellicott City is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 7 a..m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

The following county libraries can serve as cooling centers: 

• East Columbia Branch at 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Elkridge Branch at 6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Glenwood Branch at 2350 State Route 97, Cooksville is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Central Branch at 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Charles E. Miller Branch at 9421 Frederick Rd, Ellicott City is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Savage Branch at 9525 Durness Lane, Laurel is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.