Orange County issues heat alert for weekend
Free Lynx service, additional cooling spaces open
Updated 8/21/26: The National Weather Service is forecasting a maximum heat index of at least 103 degrees for parts of Orange County this weekend, triggering free bus transportation and the opening of additional cooling spaces where anyone experiencing homelessness can go to recover in shaded or air-conditioned facilities.
Some of these locations are public libraries or community centers that remain open regardless of the heat index, while others are shelters, day-service sites or mobile-shower providers that offer extra resources on especially hot days. Most offer cold water, while others provide salty snacks, cool showers or cooling supplies.
The heat index is a measure of the air temperature plus the humidity level — typically referred to as the “feels like” temperature. When forecasters expect a heat index of at least 103, Lynx has agreed to provide free transportation along established routes throughout its service area to anyone asking to go to the nearest cooling site.
Seminole and Osceola counties use a heat index of 108 to trigger the opening of additional cooling spaces, but they are not forecast to reach that threshold in the coming days. However, county libraries and community centers remain available to anyone seeking respite from the heat.
For a county-by-county list of cooling locations and resources, please click here for English.
For an interactive map of cooling locations, please click here.
Please note these hot, muggy conditions can be extremely dangerous for people who are unsheltered — and especially those who are elderly or have chronic health conditions — even below the 103 heat index. It is particularly important to stay hydrated and seek intermittent relief from the heat as best you can to allow your body to recuperate. If you suffer dizziness, nausea, headache, severe cramps, extremely hot skin or cool, pale skin, please call 9-1-1 and get medical help immediately. Heatstroke, in which body temperature rises over 104°F, is a medical emergency and can cause confusion, seizures or loss of consciousness.
Please watch this page for updates as conditions warrant.
Weather Emergencies
Extreme heat. Frigid cold. Looming hurricanes.
When dangerous weather is forecast, here’s where you’ll find the most up-to-date information on where to seek shelter, how to find free transportation, plans for outreach efforts, and how the media and public can help our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Below please find our regional plan for weather emergencies.