15 Jul Where to Find Cooling Centers Amid Weekend Heat Wave

San Jose resident Austin Win sits in a cooling center in June 2021. (Harika Maddala / Bay City News)

By Catherine Allen
Bay City News

Cooling centers are opening around the Bay Area amid an excessive heat warning issued for Saturday and Sunday.

The National Weather Service issued the warning Friday morning for inland areas expected to reach triple-digit temperatures over the weekend. The warning was set for 11 a.m. Saturday to 11 p.m. Sunday, when the heat will be most prevalent.

In counties like Sonoma, cooling centers are just one part of new plans to respond to extreme weather.

Temperatures in the 90s to 110 were projected for parts of North, East and South Bay, as well as areas of Santa Cruz and the Central Coast. The weather service noted the increased risk of fires and heat-related illnesses, especially for those working outdoors.

Cooling centers are public or government-run buildings such as community centers or libraries that are open to all individuals trying to escape the heat. Nonprofits and religious organizations often also host cooling centers during heat waves. In counties like Sonoma, ensuring residents have access to cooling centers is becoming a more collaborative effort between several organizations.

“As these extreme weather events become more frequent, the sustainability of support systems will rely on the collaborative work we do with partners, faith groups, nonprofits and local jurisdictions,” Sonoma County emergency management director Jeff DuVall said in a news release. “No one group or entity can take on climate change response alone.”

As counties and cities gear up for a hot summer, here’s where cooling centers have opened so far in the nine-county Bay Area.

View a map of cooling centers in the area here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=12kmyTeweQIaR1RkqrKGoI1PzXIdRoAI&usp=sharing

Alameda County

Castro Valley Library
Address: 3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546
Hours: 1 – 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Livermore Public Library
Address: 1188 South Livermore Ave., Livermore, CA 94550
Hours: 1 – 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 – 9 p.m. Sunday
San Lorenzo Library
Address: 395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo, CA 94580
Hours: 1 – 8 p.m. Saturday and 4 – 8 p.m. Sunday

Contra Costa County

County Employment & Human Services Offices
Address: 4545 Delta Fair Blvd., Antioch, CA 94509 and 151 Sand Creek Road, Brentwood, CA 93413
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday

Community centers in the county are also open when temperatures are above 102 degrees. The county asks people to call beforehand to confirm hours and available spaces.

Antioch Community Center
4703 Lone Tree Way, Antioch, CA 94531
Hours: 12 – 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Phone: (925) 776-3050

Nick Rodriguez Community Center
Address: 213 F St., Antioch, CA 94509
Hours: 12 – 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Phone: (925) 779-7070

Brentwood Community Center
Address: 35 Oak St., Brentwood, CA 94513
Hours: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Phone: (925) 516-5444

San Francisco County

Several San Francisco libraries are open during the heatwave:

Main Library
Address: 100 Larkin St., San Francisco, CA 94102
Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 – 5 p.m. Sunday
Air conditioning throughout the building; 243 reader seats

Chinatown/Him Mark Lai Branch Library
Address: 1135 Powell St., San Francisco, CA 94108
Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 – 5 p.m. Sunday
Air conditioning throughout the building; 124 reader seats

Glen Park Branch Library
Address: 2825 Diamond St., San Francisco, CA 94131
Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 – 5 p.m. Sunday
Air conditioning in the meeting room; maximum capacity 30.

Mission Bay Branch Library
Address: 960 Fourth St., San Francisco, CA 94158
Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 – 5 p.m. Sunday
Air conditioning throughout the building; 62 reader seats.

North Beach Branch Library
Address: 850 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94133
Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 – 5 p.m. Sunday
Air conditioning in the meeting room; maximum capacity 50.

Potrero Hill Branch Library
Address: 1616 20th St., San Francisco, CA 94107
Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 – 5 p.m. Sunday
Air conditioning in the meeting room; maximum capacity 20.

Solano County

Solano County Public Libraries

Libraries will have their regular hours, but pets are not allowed at these locations.

Senior Center
Address: 187 E. L St., Benicia, CA 94510
Hours: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Three Oaks Community Center Arts/Craft Room
Address: 1100 Alamo Drive, Vacaville, CA 95687
Hours: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Vacaville Town Square Library
Address: 1 Town Square Place, Vacaville, CA 95688
Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday
Vacaville Cultural Center Library
Address: 1020 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville, CA 95687
Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and 12 – 5 p.m. Sunday

Sonoma County

Committee on the Shelterless Mary Isaak Center
Address: 900 Hopper St., Petaluma, CA 94952
Hours: 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Saturday through Monday

Windsor Senior Recreation Center
Address: 9231 Foxwood Drive, Windsor, CA 95492
Hours: 12 – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

San Mateo County

San Mateo County spokesperson Michelle Durand said the county does not typically operate its own cooling centers. The temperature is not expected to meet the county’s emergency protocols. While there may not be cooling centers available at the county level, some cities may open their own centers.

Napa County

Calistoga Community Center
Address: 1307 Washington St., Calistoga, CA 94515
Hours: 12 – 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday
The center will close at 8 p.m. if there are only three attendees.

Santa Clara County

Several Santa Clara County libraries are serving as cooling centers this weekend. To find the closest one, visit the county’s list at https://emergencymanagement.sccgov.org/taxonomy/term/1021

In addition to libraries, these community centers will also be open:

Camden Community Center
Address: 3369 Union Ave., San Jose, 95124
Hours: 1 – 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Campbell Community Center
Address: 1 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell, CA 95008
Hours: 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Saturday through Monday

Milpitas Senior Center
Address: 40 N. Milpitas Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday

Milpitas Sports Center
Address: 1325 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035
Hours: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday

Palo Alto Art Center – Auditorium
Address: 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Roosevelt Community Center
Address: 901 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose, 95116
Hours: 1 – 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Santa Clara Community Recreation Center
Address: 969 Kiely Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95051
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday

Santa Clara Senior Center
Address: 1303 Fremont St., Santa Clara, CA 95050
Hours: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday

Marin County
Government buildings, community centers, libraries, senior centers and more are all open during regular business hours. At this time, the county is not setting additional hours or opening any other cooling centers. Residents can stay updated on information during the excessive heat warning by visiting the county’s emergency portal at emergency.marincounty.org.

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