Pasadena faces its most intense heat event of the summer this week, with the National Weather Service issuing an Extreme Heat Watch from Tuesday, Aug. 25, through Saturday, Aug. 29, and temperatures forecast to hit 104°F or higher. The watch begins Tuesday.

The city has designated Robinson Park Recreation Center, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., as the official cooling center. It will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center will remain open through Sunday, Aug. 30. Phone: (626) 744-7330.

This week's watch is a step up from the heat advisory that covered Pasadena from Aug. 17–20, when highs reached about 96°F and the Jackie Robinson Community Center at 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave. served as the cooling center. The new event uses a different facility at a nearby address.

Two additional community centers are open to the public for indoor relief, though they are not designated official cooling centers: Victory Park Recreation Center at 2575 Paloma St. (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.) and Villa Parke Community Center at 363 E. Villa St. (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.). All 10 Pasadena Public Library branches are also air-conditioned and open during regular hours.

The heat wave extends across the broader Los Angeles region. Downtown LA is forecast to approach 100°F each day through Friday, and the San Fernando Valley could near 110°F, Insurance Journal reported. Cody Snell, a meteorologist at the U.S. Weather Prediction Center, warned that vegetation across Southern California is already primed to burn. "Any wind at all would be enough to spread fires," Snell said.

The Pasadena Fire Department is urging residents to clear dry brush, dead trees and combustible material within 100 feet of homes and within 10 feet of any roadway. The department also recommends keeping gutters free of debris and maintaining five feet of vertical clearance between roof surfaces and overhanging tree branches.

Pasadena Public Health officials warn that air quality can degrade during hot weather and urge residents with medical conditions to minimize outdoor activity. Employers are required to provide a cool-down rest period for outdoor workers if requested.

Dr. Muntu Davis, the Los Angeles County health officer, said in a July 23 department release that heat causes more deaths in the U.S. annually than floods, storms and lightning combined. Older adults, young children, outdoor workers, athletes and people with chronic medical conditions are most vulnerable, Davis said.

Leaving a child or pet unattended in a vehicle is both dangerous and illegal; bystanders are legally allowed to intervene.

Pasadena Water and Power advises customers to set thermostats to 78°F or higher and reduce energy use during peak hours of 4–9 p.m. For power emergencies, call (626) 744-4673.

Pasadena Transit bus routes serve all cooling centers and libraries. Dial-A-Ride members can schedule a trip at (626) 791-7200. Water-based cooling options include John J. Kennedy Pool at 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave. and the La Pintoresca Park Splash Pad at 45 E. Washington Blvd., open sunrise to sunset.

Residents can sign up for emergency alerts through the Pasadena Local Emergency Alert System at CityOfPasadena.net/Fire/PLEAS/ or through Nixle.com by selecting Pasadena ZIP codes. Updated forecast, cooling center and air quality information is available at the city's Extreme Weather Portal at CityOfPasadena.net/extreme-weather-portal.