BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal RJ Putt, 8, of Carson City, dunks at the pool at the Carson Aquatic Center on Wednesday. With temperatures soaring to record highs, people are finding ways to stay out of the sun.
She spent the afternoon standing just close enough to a pool at the Carson City Aquatic Center that tiny droplets fell at her feet.
Children splashed in the water, dunking basketballs and each other in the water.
And Cassidy Trapp, who brought third-graders to the pool as part of the city's recreation program, could do nothing but stand and watch.
"It's hard to do this," she said, fanning her face with her hand. "I just take off my shoes and put my feet in as much as I can."
The capital city and surrounding valleys baked Wednesday under near-record temperatures that were exacerbated by lingering smoke from California wildfires.
Record temperatures are being forecast by the National Weather Service for Virginia City and Tahoe City, while the mercury is expected to hit triple digits and fall just short of records in Reno, Minden and Carson City today.
Colby Zemp enjoyed the cool water as he splashed around the aquatic center. "I like going down the slide," he said. "I'm cool."
When they're not at the pool, Trapp said, the children drink plenty of water and stay indoors.
She stays cool by freezing water bottles.
As the mercury rises, so does the need for maintenance on air conditioners. Dean Anderson, owner of Anderson Heating and Air Conditioning, said he was five days behind schedule. And he needed some help.
"It's taken me almost 22 years to find two good service technicians," he said. "If you find me one, you get a reward."
The air in Carson City led the National Weather Service to issue an "air stagnation advisory" that is due to expire at noon today. The National Weather Service said increased smoke from fires in Northern California and a "light westerly wind flow" would increase smoke and haze levels over the Sierra Nevada through Friday.
Visibility could drop to two miles during this period, the advisory stated. Pollution could also increase as a result, the service noted.
The heat kept the Carson City Senior Center an active place Wednesday, said Charles Daniels, senior services manager.
"The bottom line is, we've had people inquiring if they can just come and sit in the lobby. We've been pretty busy over here today."
Almost as popular, he said, as "Birthday Friday," where senior center patrons enjoy cake and ice cream.