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The city of Miami and Miami-Dade County activated their network of cooling centers for the 2026 heat season, available to all residents from May 1 to October 31.
In total, the network includes 22 free access points distributed across both jurisdictions, where anyone can seek refuge from the heat during the hottest and most humid months in South Florida.
The city of Miami opened 11 facilities located in parks across various sectors: Antonio Maceo Park,
Charles Hadley Park
Coral Gate Park
Grapeland Water Park
José Martí Park
Legion Memorial Park
Manolo Reyes Park
Moore Park
Rebeca Sosa Park
Robert King High Park
Roberto Clemente Park
The schedules vary depending on the facility.
José Martí Park is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM and on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Coral Gate Park is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM and on weekends from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Grapeland Water Park operates seasonally until August 16, seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The official account of the city of Miami on X called on the community with the message: "Beat the heat and visit one of our cooling centers today!"
For its part, Miami-Dade County made available another 11 locations, primarily distributed across public libraries:
Camillus Health Concern
Culmer/Overtown Branch Library
Edison Center Branch Library
Hispanic Branch Library
Lemon City Branch Library
Little River Branch Library
Main Library
Shenandoah Branch Library
Virrick Park Branch Library
West Flagler Branch Library
Stephen P. Clark Government Center.
The weather context reinforces the urgency of the measure.
"We are closing the month with record-breaking heat. PBI has shattered the old record of 94 degrees, and other locations along the East Coast have also reached the low to mid-90s," said the National Weather Service (NWS Miami) on X.
The agency issued a special weather alert on Sunday for Miami-Dade County due to high temperatures, valid until 6:45 PM.
Subsequently, it issued another similar alert for Hialeah, Miramar, and Miami Gardens, effective until 9:15 PM.
Authorities warn that heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the region. It is estimated that approximately 600 additional deaths occur each year in Miami-Dade during periods of extreme heat.
Despite that figure, the protocol has shown concrete results: in recent years, Miami-Dade has recorded the lowest rates of emergency room visits due to heat among all the counties in Florida.
Authorities recommend staying hydrated, wearing lightweight and breathable clothing, avoiding outdoor activities during the hottest hours, and never leaving children, pets, or vulnerable individuals in parked vehicles.
Residents can receive heat alerts by texting "ALERTMIAMI" to 888777.
In July 2023, the county experienced its first historical extreme heat warning, when the heat index reached 112°F (44°C), the highest value ever recorded in Miami.
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