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Prepare before the hottest days: block sunlight, seal doors and windows, improve insulation where practical, arrange safe air-conditioning or another cool location, and create a check-in plan for people who may need help. During the event, keep heat out, limit oven and stove use, use fans cautiously, and leave for an air-conditioned place if your home or power supply cannot keep you safe.
El Niño changes seasonal odds; it does not guarantee a heat wave at your address. NOAA’s outlooks are broad and probabilistic, so use your local forecast, heat alerts, HeatRisk, and air-quality information for immediate decisions.
What El Niño does—and does not—tell you
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center reported on October 8, 2026, that El Niño was strengthening and that a strong-to-very-strong event had a greater than 83% chance of continuing through January–March 2027. Its September 17, 2026, seasonal outlook favored above-normal temperatures across many parts of the United States for October–December 2026. Those statements describe seasonal probabilities, not a forecast that your town will experience a heat wave or that your home will reach a particular temperature.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Use the seasonal signal to complete building work and household planning early. For decisions over the next few hours or days, check your local National Weather Service forecast, heat alerts, HeatRisk, and air-quality information. The NOAA ENSO Diagnostic Discussion and NOAA long-lead seasonal outlook discussion are updated on their own schedules; neither replaces local warnings.
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Make a heat plan before an alert
1. Find the safest room and the people who need support
Walk through the house on a warm afternoon and identify the room that stays coolest and can be closed off from the rest of the home. Note which windows receive direct afternoon sun, where doors or windows have visible drafts, and whether an air conditioner can be installed safely. Keep window coverings, drinking water, chargers, medications, and a way to receive alerts in or near that room.
Write down everyone who may need a check-in. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention specifically highlights older adults, young children, pregnant people, people with chronic health conditions, and people who work or exercise outdoors. A person who lives alone may also need a scheduled call, text, or in-person visit. Decide who checks on whom, at what times, and what action will follow if someone does not respond.
2. Decide where you will cool off if home cooling fails
Choose a nearby air-conditioned location before temperatures rise. Depending on local arrangements, a public library, shopping mall, cooling center, or air-conditioned shelter may be available. CDC advises contacting your local health department to find current locations; hours, transportation, accessibility, and admission rules vary. Do not assume a location is open until you verify it for the specific heat event.
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Record the address, phone number, opening hours, transportation options, and a second choice. If someone in the household uses medical equipment, needs refrigeration for medication, or cannot travel independently, discuss the backup plan with a clinician, utility, or local emergency-management office before an outage occurs.
3. Check forecasts and set decision points
Choose a temperature or alert threshold at which you will stop relying on passive measures and move to air conditioning or your backup location. Use the local forecast and official heat guidance rather than trying to convert NOAA’s seasonal outlook into a household temperature prediction. Check air quality as well: smoke and ozone can make opening windows or spending time outdoors unsafe even when indoor temperatures seem manageable.
Keep sunlight and outdoor heat out of the building
Cover sun-facing windows
Close drapes or shades before direct sun reaches the glass, not after the room has already heated. Ready.gov also recommends window reflectors designed to reflect heat outside. Use coverings that fit securely and can be opened when outdoor conditions become cooler or when you need daylight. Do not block required emergency exits, ventilation equipment, or a window that must remain operable for safety.
Window coverings are a relatively simple intervention, but they do not make an overheated room safe by themselves. Combine them with a cooling plan and monitor the actual indoor conditions, especially for people at higher risk.
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Seal leaks around doors and windows
Weather-strip doors and windows that leak outdoor air. Inspect the perimeter of each opening, replace damaged strips, and make sure the door closes fully. Sealing gaps can reduce unwanted heat entry and make air conditioning more effective, but it should not interfere with required ventilation or prevent a door from opening quickly.
Consider insulation and attic measures
Ready.gov lists insulation and, where suitable, a powered attic ventilator among home-preparation options. Insulation and building work cost more and require a property-specific assessment; the right approach depends on the building’s construction, existing ventilation, electrical capacity, and local code. If you rent, ask the landlord or property manager what modifications are permitted.
Choose reliable cooling, not just moving air
Use air conditioning when dangerous heat is expected
A properly installed room air conditioner can provide actual cooling when the home becomes hazardous. The National Weather Service recommends considering window air conditioners as part of advance preparation. Select a unit appropriate for the room and have it installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The cited guidance provides no universal sizing formula, specific model, or comparative product performance, so treat “window air conditioner” as a category rather than a product ranking.
Before a heat event, test the unit, clean or replace filters as directed, verify that the plug and circuit are suitable, and confirm that condensate can drain without damaging the building. Keep the intake and exhaust clear. If the unit cannot cool the room, is leaking, trips the circuit, or has an electrical smell, stop using it and obtain qualified help.
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Fans can improve comfort when indoor temperatures are below 90°F, but they are not a substitute for air conditioning during dangerous heat. CDC’s general guidance states: “Use fans, but only if indoor temperatures are less than 90°F.” Above 90°F, a fan can increase body temperature rather than protect you. CDC also advises people without air conditioning not to rely solely on fans. Use the fan guidance together with an actual temperature reading and a plan to reach a cooler location.
Reduce heat produced inside
Use the stove and oven less during the hottest part of the day. Choose no-cook meals or appliances that add less heat to the room when practical. Close the oven promptly after use and avoid activities that unnecessarily warm the coolest room. Ready.gov and CDC both identify reducing cooking heat as a useful measure; it does not replace air conditioning or an off-site cooling plan.
Prepare for a power outage or an unsafe indoor temperature
Use your preselected cooling location
If the power fails, your air conditioner cannot keep the room safe, or indoor conditions continue to worsen, move to the location you identified in advance. CDC notes that even a few hours in an air-conditioned mall or public library can help. Contact local health or emergency-management agencies for current cooling-center and shelter information, and verify accessibility before traveling.
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Take essential medications, identification, water, chargers, communication devices, and supplies needed by anyone with a medical condition. If transportation is a barrier, ask local agencies, family, neighbors, or community organizations about available assistance before the event.
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A person who becomes confused, unusually weak, faint, or unable to care for themselves needs urgent attention. Follow local emergency and medical guidance. Do not leave an older adult, child, pregnant person, or someone with a chronic condition alone in a home that is becoming dangerously hot while you search for a solution.
Operate the home safely during extreme heat
Before the hottest period
- Check the local forecast, heat alert, HeatRisk, and air-quality information.
- Close shades, drapes, or reflectors on sun-facing windows before direct sunlight enters.
- Close and secure doors and windows that are not needed for ventilation or exit.
- Test the room air conditioner and confirm that the backup cooling location is open.
- Move medications, water, chargers, and essential supplies to the coolest usable room.
- Contact the people on your check-in list and confirm transportation options.
During the heat
- Stay in the coolest room and keep direct sun off the glass.
- Use air conditioning when available and seek an air-conditioned public place if it is not.
- Use a fan only when indoor temperature is below 90°F; never treat it as the sole protection in very hot conditions.
- Limit oven and stove use, especially during the hottest hours.
- Drink fluids according to your health needs and follow advice from your clinician if you have a condition that affects hydration.
- Check on family, friends, neighbors, and anyone who lives alone or has an elevated risk.
- Recheck local heat and air-quality guidance as conditions change.
Compare preparation options by purpose
| Option | What it addresses | Cost and feasibility | Safety or reliability limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drapes, shades, or heat-reflective window panels | Reduces direct sunlight entering rooms. | Usually a simpler household change than equipment or building work; fit and installation vary. | Does not cool a room by itself and must not block required exits. |
| Door and window weather-stripping | Limits heat entering through gaps. | Generally a smaller project than insulation; inspect and replace damaged material. | Do not seal an opening in a way that defeats required ventilation or emergency egress. |
| Insulation or attic ventilation improvements | Addresses heat transfer through the building envelope or attic. | More costly and property-dependent; assess construction, ventilation, electrical needs, and permissions. | Results depend on the building and installation; no universal temperature reduction is provided by the cited guidance. |
| Window air conditioner | Provides active cooling in a selected room. | Requires a suitable unit, safe installation, power, and maintenance. | Performance depends on room, unit, installation, and power availability; the cited guidance provides no specific model or sizing result. |
| Identified off-site air-conditioned location | Provides cooling when home equipment or power is unavailable. | May be low-cost, but transportation, hours, accessibility, and local availability must be checked. | Never assume a mall, library, shelter, or cooling center is open without confirmation. |
| Fan | Moves air for comfort in milder indoor conditions. | Easy to deploy and does not provide air conditioning. | CDC says to use fans indoors only below 90°F and not to rely on them alone in very hot conditions. |
Protect people who are more vulnerable to heat
Heat affects people differently. Older adults, young children, pregnant people, people with chronic health conditions, and people working or exercising outdoors deserve deliberate check-ins. A person’s medication, mobility, ability to recognize symptoms, and access to transportation can change the plan.
Ask what each person needs before an alert: a ride to an air-conditioned location, help installing a room air conditioner, someone to monitor them by phone, or a clinician-approved heat action plan. Keep the check-in specific: identify the time, method, backup contact, and action if there is no response. Do not assume that someone who says they are “fine” has a safe indoor temperature or a working cooling system.
Use local heat and air-quality information together
Heat and air pollution can create competing ventilation decisions. Opening windows may help when outdoor air is cooler and clean, but it may be counterproductive during smoke or high-ozone conditions. Check local air-quality information along with the heat forecast before deciding whether to ventilate.
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CDC’s About Heat and Your Health guidance points readers to HeatRisk and local information, while its page for people without air conditioning, Heat and People without Air Conditioning, explains cooling options and the limits of fans. Use those pages as general guidance, then follow local health and emergency instructions for the current event.
Get help with cooling and weatherization costs
Window coverings and weather-stripping are usually more accessible than insulation or new equipment, but any household may face costs it cannot absorb. CDC and Ready.gov direct people who need help with cooling or weatherization to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Eligibility, application procedures, and local services change, so use the official information linked from Ready.gov’s Extreme Heat guidance or CDC’s low-income heat guidance rather than assuming you qualify or that funds are available.
Ask local agencies about both immediate cooling assistance and longer-term weatherization. Assistance may involve different offices, deadlines, or documentation than an emergency cooling center, so contact them before the hottest period whenever possible.
Quick Recap
A practical household checklist
One to several weeks ahead
- Identify the coolest room and check every window and exterior door for direct sun and air leaks.
- Install or repair shades, drapes, reflectors, and weather-stripping.
- Investigate insulation or attic measures if they are suitable for the property.
- Choose and safely install a correctly sized room air conditioner if appropriate.
- Locate two nearby air-conditioned public options and verify transportation and accessibility.
- Build a check-in list for people at elevated risk or living alone.
- Ask about LIHEAP or local weatherization support if costs are a barrier.
When a heat alert is issued
- Confirm the latest local forecast, HeatRisk, air quality, and cooling-center information.
- Test cooling equipment and charge phones or other essential devices.
- Close sun-facing coverings before the room heats up.
- Plan meals that minimize stove and oven use.
- Tell your check-in contacts when you will call and where you will go if cooling fails.
If the home becomes unsafe
- Do not rely on a fan alone in very hot indoor conditions.
- Move to the preselected air-conditioned location or contact local health and emergency-management agencies for current options.
- Take essential medication and supplies, and arrange help for anyone who cannot travel independently.
- Continue checking on higher-risk household members and neighbors until they are in a reliably cool place.
Sources and current guidance
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About Heat and Your Health — prevention actions, higher-risk groups, fan guidance, HeatRisk, and air quality.
- Ready.gov: Extreme Heat — window coverings, reflectors, weather-stripping, insulation, cooking heat, room air conditioners, and LIHEAP.
- National Weather Service Albuquerque: Emergency Preparedness—Excessive Heat — advance home preparation and cooling-location planning.
- CDC: Heat and People without Air Conditioning — public cooling places, fan limitations, reduced oven use, and LIHEAP.
- NOAA Climate Prediction Center: ENSO Diagnostic Discussion — the October 8, 2026 El Niño status and probability.
- NOAA Climate Prediction Center: Prognostic Discussion for Long-Lead Seasonal Outlooks — the September 17, 2026 seasonal temperature outlook.
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