image description — Pittsfield residents beat the heat at Onota Lake in Monday.

Stay Safe In the Heat Wave: Cooling Centers and Resources

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:42PM / Monday, June 23, 2025Print Story | Email Story

Temperatures rose during the day, hitting 92 degrees on Main Street in North Adams.

List of South County cooling centers here.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Summer is here, and people are feeling it with the heat wave that has hit central and eastern U.S., including Berkshire County.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health issued an extreme heat alert, advising people to remember that the first heatwave of the season is when risk is the highest.

"Data show that heat-related illnesses and hospital visits spike during the first stretch of [85-degree] F days, before people have acclimated to the heat," it stated.

According to The Weather Channel, people will be experiencing the "hottest temperatures of the year and uncomfortably muggy air from the Midwest and the Northeast."

The dangerous heat dome is expected to last into much of the week for some areas. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the region through 8 p.m. on Tuesday, and says while the temperature may be in the 90s, the heat index value is up to 102 degrees.

Wednesday is expected to be in the high 80s with chances of thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening. Thursday should bring some relief with temperatures dropping into the 70s.

During prolonged periods of extreme heat, the body has to work harder to stay cool, which can be dangerous and even life-threatening if precautions are not taken, according to the Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health.

"While anyone can be affected, older adults, young children, pregnant individuals, workers exposed to excessive heat, and people with chronic medical conditions are especially vulnerable," it said

"Taking preventive steps — like staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous activity, and seeking cooler environments — can help protect your patients and community members during periods of extreme heat."

Several community organizations, including libraries, senior centers, churches, and public spaces, are open for use as cooling centers.

Some locations include the Pittsfield Senior Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Dalton Community Recreation Association Hall of Fame from 5:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., the Berkshire Athenaeum, the Spitzer Center, and more.

A list of cooling centers can be found here.

Explore guidance, tools, and resources to help understand, prepare for, and stay safe during periods of extreme heat in Massachusetts here.

Tags: heat advisory,

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.

This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.

The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.

DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.

"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.

"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."

Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.

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