Eau Claire prepares for weekend heatwave

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - WEAU Meteorologist Tucker Antico says he’s forecasting an unusually hot weekend. A dry 95 degree high for this Saturday.

“This weekend is going to be the hottest weekend we have had in a full year … we have not been in the mid 90′s at least 95 and warmer since 2018,” Antico said.

Lucky for Eau Claire, one of the best ways to beat the heat is back in business. Fairfax Pool opens tomorrow at 1pm for this first time in 20 months.

“We are very excited! We want people to come out and enjoy the water and really who knew it would be 90 degrees on our opening day,” said Eau Claire Recreations Manager Dawn Comte. She says Fairfax Pool was closed last summer due to repairs and COVID-19.

“We are very aware we are still in a pandemic but the good news is we are an outdoor facility so we are still taking some precautions,” Comte said.

She adds that Fairfax Pool may be one of the best options for safe swimming but recognizes the many other ways people can stay cool.

“Eau Claire is a water community. We have a confluence of two rivers, Half Moon Lake Half Moon Beach but those are unsupervised. It’s always better to be in a guarded area in you can,” Comte said.

For Bryce Johnson and Morgan Roberts of Eau Claire, they’re happy to see the temperatures rising.

“I love it, I hate winter,” Johnson said.

Today was their first time at Half Moon Beach. As for how they plan to stay cool the rest of the weekend?

“Ice cream! Go to Cowboy Jacks the outdoor patio just opened up its super good super nice and right by the river too,” said Johnson.

If you were wondering what a meteorologist does during the heat,

“Maybe I’ll get in the water! I know my AC will be cranking all weekend,” Antico said.

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