The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for cities in and around Los Angeles County this week as temperatures exceeded triple-digits Wednesday through Friday.

The Labor Day weekend forecast for Claremont continues to be hot, with the mercury predicted to hit 104 Saturday.

In response, the City of Claremont encourages folks in need to avail themselves to the various cooling centers around town. The largest and most accessible is the Alexander Hughes Community Center, 1700 Danbury Rd., which is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The Hughes Center is also open normal hours Labor Day, Monday, September 5.

Other cooling centers include the Blaisdell Community Center, 440 S. College Ave., Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the Joslyn Center, 660 N. Mountain Ave., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; and the Claremont Helen Renwick Library, 208 N. Harvard Ave., Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday and Labor Day Monday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Blaisdell and Joslyn are closed Labor Day, Monday, September 5.

The centers are open to all who need to cool down and there is no need to pre-register. Each has its own occupancy limits as well, so please call ahead to be sure it has not reached capacity. The Hughes Center is at (909) 399-5490; Blaisdell, (909) 399-5367; library, (909) 621-4902; and the Joslyn Center, (909) 399-5488.

Transportation to all centers is available for $4 through the Pomona Valley Transportation Authority. To schedule a ride, call (909) 596-7664 and choose option two. Be sure to call at least one hour prior to your desired departure time.

All centers are of course indoors; though face coverings are encouraged, they are optional.

Folks who plan on being outdoors during hot days ahead are advised to take precautions, including drinking plenty of fluids, staying out of the direct sun as much as possible, and using sunscreen when its unavoidable.

Officials also encourage all of us to check in on those who do not have air conditioning or may otherwise be endangered by the heat advisory.

Also, humans or animals should never be left in a hot vehicle as car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.

For more information and tips for preventing heat‐related illness, visit  cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/index.html.