MADISON (WKOW) -- Dane County Emergency Management officials are calling this extreme stretch of hot weather historic.
"We've already seen six straight days of temperatures above 90 degrees and with another five more expected, this would be the longest period of heat above 90 degrees that we've seen in this area since 1936," said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi.
That's why they're calling on neighbors to help one another.
"We're making a very direct ask of anyone in our community who knows someone who has medical conditions, is elderly or disabled, to please check in on those folks to make sure they're OK, make sure that they have access to a cool place to stay," said Parisi.
According to records released by Dane County on Tuesday, 121 people have died in Wisconsin as a direct result of extreme heat since 1982.
That's three times as many deaths caused by severe heat than any other type of extreme weather condition.
People wanting to beat the heat are already taking advantage of the several public places where they can go to cool off, such as the Sequoya Public Library on Madison's west side.
"We come here a lot and its nice in the heat to have a little, you know, somewhere different to go," said Sara Zimmerman, who was at the library with her young daughter.
"Part of it is here for me too," said Sarah Dehaan. "You know, I don't want to be cooped up inside, so, its nice to come to a cool place."
Because of public spaces like the library and the City of Madison's efforts to provide cooling stations, the county is in a holding pattern for the moment.
"We can open up a couple of different places in a couple of different hours as needed," said Parisi. "Right now, we're monitoring the need."
The Alliant Energy Center and Exhibition Hall will be the first stations opened if the need arises.
