Prince George's County opens cooling centers as extreme heat hits Maryland
Cooling centers opened in Prince George’s as Maryland braced for heat up to 115 degrees, with overnight lows above 80 and health warnings for seniors and workers.
Prince George’s County opened permanent cooling centers as Maryland braced for an extreme heat wave expected to push heat indices to 110 and possibly 115 degrees through Sunday. Governor Wes Moore declared a State of Preparedness on June 30, giving state agencies a broader response posture as the first blast of the heat wave hit Wednesday.
The executive order covers conditions expected to last from July 1 through July 5, with the hottest stretch most likely Thursday through Saturday. Daytime highs could reach the mid-90s, with some places climbing to 100 degrees or higher, while overnight temperatures are expected to stay above 80 degrees across most of Maryland. The order directs the Maryland Department of Emergency Management to coordinate state preparedness and response and allows other agencies to activate emergency plans and deploy resources.
The governor’s order cites possible strain on the electric grid, water utility systems, public health and medical services, and transportation infrastructure. The danger is greatest for older adults, children, people with chronic diseases, and outdoor workers, especially when heat lingers overnight and bodies do not get a chance to cool down.
In Prince George’s County, permanent cooling centers were open to the public weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Every center offers a cooling area with seating whenever temperatures reach 90 degrees or higher. Residents should limit outdoor activity from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., drink plenty of water, wear lightweight clothing, and take breaks in the shade.
Older adults, especially those without air conditioning at home, should use the centers. Residents should also check on relatives, neighbors and other vulnerable people, including young children and people living with chronic illness, in communities from Largo and Upper Marlboro to Hyattsville, Capitol Heights and Temple Hills.
Maryland’s Extreme Heat Emergency Plan runs from May 3 through October 3, 2026, and calls for enhanced operations during heat advisories, extreme heat watches, extreme heat warnings and complex heat emergencies. Maryland recorded 1,255 heat-related emergency department and urgent-care visits in 2024, then 1,674 heat-related ED and urgent-care visits and 1,645 EMS calls in 2025, with Prince George’s County among the counties with the highest visit counts.
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