Heat indices up to 111 degrees are forecast across Duval County through the weekend, and the city of Jacksonville has opened 90 cooling centers at libraries, community centers, pools and splash pads for residents seeking relief.

The city activated its Cooling Center Contingency Plan on Tuesday, Aug. 11, and it runs through Sunday, Aug. 16, according to a city press release. The National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory for northeast Florida from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, with possible advisories continuing Friday through Sunday as highs push into the mid- to upper-90s inland.

Libraries, pools and splash pads open as cooling centers through the weekend

Mandarin-area residents can use any of the city's 21 library branches, 20 community centers, 31 pools and 18 splash pads as cooling centers during normal operating hours Monday through Saturday. A full list of locations is available at jacksonville.gov/StayCoolJax.

On Sunday, Aug. 16, when most city facilities are closed, two dedicated cooling centers will open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Main Library at 303 N. Laura St. and Legends Center at 5130 Soutel Drive.

Free bus rides to cooling centers

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is providing free rides to any cooling center on all activation days. Riders must tell the bus driver they are headed to a cooling center when boarding.

City urges residents to limit outdoor activity, watch for heatstroke symptoms

The city's Emergency Preparedness Division, led by Chief Andre Ayoub under Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, is urging residents to avoid outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles, and watch for heat exhaustion and heatstroke symptoms including dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat and confusion.

According to News4Jax weather reporting, heat and humidity are expected to linger near advisory levels into the week of Aug. 17. The city has not announced whether the cooling center plan will be extended beyond Sunday, Aug. 16.

Residents can find cooling center locations and hours at jacksonville.gov/StayCoolJax or jaxready.com/StayCoolJax.