Valley prepares for hot Labor Day weekend

Today’s kickoff in the game between the Douglas Tigers and McQueen Lancers has been moved forward three hours to 10 a.m. in order to avoid playing during the hottest part of the day, according to Tiger Football Coach Kyle Mays.

Another round of temperatures approaching 100 degrees in parts of Carson Valley is expected this weekend.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory through the Labor Day weekend until Tuesday night.

The forecast for Minden calls for high temperatures in the upper 90s through the weekend with lows around 60 degrees.

The high temperatures will approach record highs in the Douglas County seat with Thursday’s forecast high coming to within a degree of the 2005 record of 98 degrees.

The next four days covered by the advisory are all forecast to come within 1-3 degrees of records set in the 1950s.

“Douglas County would like to advise our residents, and visitors to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun during the hottest period of the day, and check up on those relatives and neighbors who are heat vulnerable,” County Chief of Staff Melissa Blosser said on Wednesday. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Car interiors in hot weather can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”

The last round of 100-degree temperatures occurred at the end of July, peaking at 102 degrees on July 29.

Efforts to find cooler climes by taking to the Sierra won’t be limited to residents of the Eastern Slope, as most of California is subject to an excessive heat warning with temperatures in Placerville forecast to hit 105 degrees by Labor Day. That means visitors will be flocking to Lake Tahoe where the high temperature is expected to peak at 91 degrees.

While air conditioning can help with the heat, it also puts increased stress on the power grid, which could cause electrical outages.

“Extended outages may impact the community — closing stores, transportation, banks and gas stations,” Blosser said. “It doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”

The county will have the community centers in Gardnerville, Topaz Ranch Estates and Stateline open during regular business hours where air conditioning is available. In the event of an outage, the Douglas County Community Center on Waterloo has a backup generator and can be utilized as a cooling station.

Douglas County Community and Senior Center

1329 Waterloo Ln, Gardnerville

Kahle Park and Community Center

236 Kingsbury Grade, Stateline

TRE Community Center

1490 Albite Road, Wellington

For normal business hours visit www.douglascountynv.gov/

For more information on how you can prepare for high heat temperatures visit www.ready.gov/heat