Rogue Valley programs persevere in extreme heat - News - DailyTidings.com - Ashland, OR

Ashland Daily Tidings (Ashland, OR — Wayback)

2015-07-08

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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » NEWS NOW   More lightning, high winds possible       ...       Scientist: We need to learn to live with wildfires       ...       Weather or Not: June in Redding — er, I mean Ashland       ...       More lightning, high winds possible       ...       Scientist: We need to learn to live with wildfires       ...       Weather or Not: June in Redding — er, I mean Ashland       ...           Rogue Valley programs persevere in extreme heat Comment By Kaylee Tornay Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Kaylee Tornay Daily Tidings Posted Jul. 6, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Kaylee Tornay Daily Tidings Posted Jul. 6, 2015 at 12:01 AM Red flag warning --> A fire weather watch will be in effect Monday afternoon through Monday evening for eastern Jackson and Klamath counties, as well as parts of northern California, the Medford office of the National ... » Read more X Red flag warning A fire weather watch will be in effect Monday afternoon through Monday evening for eastern Jackson and Klamath counties, as well as parts of northern California, the Medford office of the National Weather Service announced Sunday morning. A red flag warning was also issued for Sunday afternoon and evening. Dry thunderstorms with gusty winds could cause fire starts and rapid fire spread in affected areas. As of about 4 p.m. Sunday, a line of thunderstorms was moving northeast through the Howard Prairie and Hyatt lakes area. There's a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11 a.m., locally on Tuesday, the NWS forecasts. The chance of showers and thunderstorms persists daily through Saturday. »  Social News Record-breaking temperatures have forced organizations throughout the Rogue Valley to devise creative ways to avoid costly cancellations of their outdoor programs this summer. The Rogue Valley YMCA had to move its recent rock climbing outing at Emigrant Lake to earlier in the day, meaning a 5 a.m. wakeup time for some kids. The YMCA also uses its pool and the nearby air-conditioned Central Medford High School to keep kids happy and safe when temperatures begin to creep dangerously high. Transportation can be a challenge, but frequent water breaks and moving outdoor activities indoors are all preferable to cancellations, said Executive Director Brad Russell. “We’re committed to always running the programs,” Russell said.  The outdoor concerts at the Britt Festivals in Jacksonville kicked off during the hottest June on record, but Marketing Director Sara King Cole said all shows will continue as planned. Attendees are encouraged to bring extra water and take the free trolley, which runs from 6 p.m. until concert time from all parking lots in Jacksonville to Britt's main gate. In Ashland, actors in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's outdoor Allen Elizabethan Theatre shows keep plenty of water and sometimes ice packs backstage to help cool them down between scenes, said Media and Communications Manager Amy Richard. Audience members are likewise encouraged to stay hydrated. For the free Green Shows, which begin at 6:45 p.m. on the outdoor bricks, performers are typically wearing lighter dress, but the performances can be physically demanding. “So far, nothing’s been canceled, but it is a possibility in extreme cases,” Richard said. Rich Rosenthal, assistant director at Medford Parks and Recreation, noted that although some daytime practices for teams have been canceled, he expected most games to go on as scheduled. He said the Jackson Aquatic Center and spray parks around Medford have been busier than ever. “We’re very sensitive to making sure that our participants are careful with their health and safety,” Rosenthal said. Some local baseball teams have moved practices up to earlier in the mornings, and coaches say they're keeping a sharp eye on their athletes to make sure they stay hydrated. June's average high temperature was 91.3 degrees, the hottest since records started being kept in Medford in 1911. The mercury shot into triple digits five days, and 21 days hit 90 degrees are higher. But Rogue Valley residents can expect a small measure of relief this week. The National Weather Service predicts highs will drop steadily until they hit the high 80s on Thursday.  Reach reporting intern Kaylee Tornay at [email protected]. By Kaylee Tornay Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Kaylee Tornay Daily Tidings Posted Jul. 6, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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