In response to the hot spell gripping San Francisco, city officials are throwing open the gates of public pools, offering residents sweet relief from the rising mercury – for free. All nine public pools will welcome anyone at zero cost today, as part of the city's efforts to help citizens beat the heat.

Temperatures are expected to hit between the low 80s and mid-90s, said the National Weather Service, which has issued a heat advisory from 11 a.m. Tuesday through 7 p.m. Wednesday. The sweltering weather is particularly worrisome for at-risk neighborhoods like the Mission, Tenderloin, and Chinatown. Phil Ginsburg, San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager emphasized the need for residents – "especially seniors and families with young children" – to know there are cooling resources available, as stated by KRON4.

However, don't expect these aquatic hubs to stick around for Independence Day festivities. In observance of the July 4th holiday, all city public pools and recreation facilities will lock up. But until then, locals can plunge into any city pool from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 7 p.m., depending on the location. Details on specific pool hours can be found at sfrecpark.org, NBC Bay Area reports.

Pools are prepped for user safety – no glass, no smoking, and swimsuits are non-negotiable – with showers a must before diving in. The little ones need to have an adult by their side if they're under 4 feet tall – and for everyone else, keep it clean – visibly intoxicated individuals and potty mouths will be shown the door, no ID required. Full rules are on display at each aquatic venue, says NBC Bay Area.