11 public swimming pools in Atlanta are free until Thursday because of this god-awful heat

• City of Atlanta
• Grant Park Pool beckons you

Everyone agrees. It’s hot. Temperatures last week soared into the 90s. And even with forecasts calling for scattered thunderstorms beginning this Friday, this week’s temperatures are still predicted to stay in the high 80s and low 90s.

To combat the early onslaught of a late summer’s heat, 11 of Atlanta’s public swimming pools will be free for Atlanta residents until this Thursday to help residents stay cool, says Jenna Garland, a spokeswoman for Mayor Kasim Reed.

Garland says the city recognizes that offering free entry to the different pools is a “healthy and safe” way to cool down from the excessively high temperatures. The list and hours of all 11 swimming pools can be found online.

The city is also advising residents to monitor a “a local radio station, TV station or NOAA Weather Radio” for “watches and warnings” about the excessive heat.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says there were 7,415 “heat-related” deaths from 1999 to 2010. The agency has a list of ways to prevent overheating. Those include drinking lots of water, staying in air-conditioned spaces, and limiting midday activities.