Hot Weather

County Maps of Cooling Sites

Note that Chittenden County does not include cooling sites in Burlington. There is a separate map for the City of Burlington below.

Planning to print? These maps look best printed on 11x17" paper.

Addison County | Bennington County | Caledonia County | Chittenden County (no Burlington sites) | Essex County | Franklin County | Grand Isle County | Lamoille County | Orange County | Orleans County | Rutland County | Washington County | Windham County | Windsor County

City/Town Maps of Cooling Sites

Planning to print? These maps look best printed on 8.5x11" paper.

City of Burlington | Town of Middlebury | City of Montpelier | City of Saint Albans

List of Cooling Sites by Town

Type the town name in the search bar to filter by town.

Vermonters are at greater risk for serious heat-related illnesses, and even death, when the statewide average temperature reaches 87°F or hotter. Since 2000, Vermont has had an average of seven hot days per year when the temperature reached 87°F or hotter.

Climate models from the Vermont State Climate Office predict 15 to 20 hot days per year by mid-century, and 20 to 34 hot days per year by the end of the century. As the climate warms and there are more hot days, more heat illnesses and deaths will occur. Some of these impacts can be avoided by taking actions to prepare and adapt.

Learn more about hot weather impacts and adaptation strategies

• Stay in the shade, in air-conditioning if you can, or in cool places such as basements.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Take cool showers.
• Use fans, but don't rely on them as the only way to stay cool.
• Go to public buildings that are air-conditioned.
• Sleep without sheets.
• Avoid hot drinks and meals.

• Drink more water than usual, especially if you're exercising or active outdoors.
• Be proactive, don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink water.
• Don't drink alcoholic or caffeinated beverages.

• Follow local weather and news reports.
• Sign up for weather alerts at VT-Alert.
• Try out the National Weather Service Experimental Enhanced Weather Outlook Map.
• Check Health Department social media (Instagram and Facebook) and Vermont Emergency Management social media (Instagram, X and Facebook).

• Take it easy when it's hot.
• Reduce outdoor work and exercise and limit it to the cooler parts of the day.
• Ask for help if you feel sick.
• Stop what you are doing if you feel faint or weak.
• Be more cautious if you have a chronic health condition.

• Call your loved ones and neighbors to check on them, especially if they are older or have chronic health conditions. 
• Make sure they are drinking enough water and are staying cool.
• Remind them to take heat seriously.

• Draw light-colored shades to keep out the sun—dark-colored shades can be less effective.
• Close windows during the day when it is hotter outside than inside.
• Open windows at night when it's cooler outside than inside.
• Use fans to blow in cooler outside air or vent out warmer inside air.
• Limit use of the stove, oven and other heat-generating appliances.

• Limit use of the stove, oven and other heat-generating appliances during hot weather.
• Seal air leaks and increase insulation to keep buildings cooler in summer (and warmer in winter).
• Plant trees and shrubs around buildings to increase summer shade and cooling breezes.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs that stay much cooler and save energy.
• Install a heat pump or efficient air conditioner.
• Learn more about ways to keep your home cool at Efficiency Vermont.

• Create a community response plan that identifies protective actions to take on hot days.
• Open a cooling center by following the community cooling center guidance.
• Send out messages via social media or Front Porch Form to communicate to your community about how to prepare for hot weather, what to do, and what resources are available.
• Mobilize local care networks to check on people at high risk for heat illness.
• Limit or cancel outdoor job, school or extracurricular activities, including athletic practices, games and other outdoor events.
• Have a plan for hot weather by following the preparedness guidance for schools and child care providers.
• Plant trees and shrubs, and reduce paved surfaces to keep urbanized areas cooler.
• Promote energy-efficient building design, including use of cool roofs and pavements.

List of Guidance Documents for Partners

• Local Hot Weather Preparedness Guidance
• Local Hot Weather Preparedness Guidance Summary
• Local Hot Weather Preparedness Guidance Template
• Community Cooling Center Guidance
• Hot Weather and Health Media Toolkit and Key Facts
• Preparing for Hot Weather at Schools and Child Cares

• Develop a plan for protecting the safety of outdoor workers on hot days.
• Provide water, rest and shade on hot days.
• Use the Heat Safety Tool App to monitor local conditions. 
• Learn more and find resources to help with planning, training, and education from VOSHA or NIOSH.