City of Jacksonville activates cooling centers, heat advisory in effect until 7 p.m.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The City of Jacksonville activated its cooling centers Friday due to the extreme heat in the area.

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A heat advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with “feels like” temperatures reaching anywhere from 108 to 110 degrees in some inland neighborhoods.

When activated on Monday-Saturday, Cooling Centers will be available at various City of Jacksonville (COJ) facilities under normal hours of operation. These facilities will be open regardless of whether activation thresholds are met, and they include:

• All COJ Public Libraries (21 libraries): Accessible and air-conditioned spaces.
• All COJ Community Centers (20 centers): Available in multiple neighborhoods.
• All COJ Pools (29 pools) and Splash Pads (16 pads): Provide immediate cooling relief.

Additionally, free transportation to Cooling Centers will be provided by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) on designated activation days. Riders must tell bus drivers that they are traveling to a cooling center to receive free fares. By offering free rides, JTA will help remove transportation barriers, allowing more community members to access the Cooling Centers, and in turn, stay cool and safe.