Heat May Close Out Records, Open Cooling Centers In S.C. County

LOS GATOS, CA — Bring out the water, ice cream and air conditioner. The heat is on and licking at record highs for the South Bay this week, the National Weather Service indicated Wednesday morning.

The weather service declared a heat advisory for the San Francisco Bay Area for Wednesday and Thursday with temperatures expected to reach the mid-90s and low 100s.

"The hottest will be Livermore," meteorologist Scott Rowe told Patch, adding those venturing that far inland may expect high temps of 105 and 106, respectively. So heading west may be the calling for the next two days.

Still, hanging out in the San Jose region may not offer much relief. The metropolis could tease at breaking its 96-degree record high Wednesday and Thursday with forecasts of 95 and 96 for the next two days.

Gilroy should be hotter with a high forecast for both days of 104 — but the southern Santa Clara County town will probably hold the records of 107 and 103, respectively.

A few weeks ago, the heat drove people seeking relief to anywhere they could go — stores, theaters and in Los Gatos, whole families hung out with picnics at the town fountain, with many standing in the middle of it fully clothed. Those not wanting to forego some exercise specifically chose shady trails like Los Gatos Creek Trail, which also has water fountains installed for our four-legged friends.

Into San Mateo County, the breeze characteristic of the Peninsula may not be enough for those hugging the coast to stay cool. Redwood City should experience high temperatures of 92 and 93 at midweek. The records are 95 and 99 degrees.

To alleviate the impact, cooling centers and shelters throughout Santa Clara County will be open with extended hours to provide respite from the heat.

To get there, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority has starting offering free rides through 8 p.m. Wednesday. Free rides on VTA bus and light rail are intended to assist some of our most vulnerable populations, primarily the unsheltered and the elderly. Those needing access to cooling centers should simply tell the bus driver or fare inspector that they are on their way to a cooling center, and they will be able to ride for free.

The list of cooling centers accompany tips on how to stay cool and hydrated during hot weather conditions. Trip planning assistance to any of the cooling centers is available at 408-321-2300 or through email at customer.service@vta.org.

The weather service predicts that temperatures will cool slightly on Friday, but some areas will still reach the 90s with isolated areas approaching 100 degrees.

Older adults and those with medical conditions are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses or may not have or want air conditioning.

County officials are asking residents to check on the most vulnerable in our society and help them get to a cooling center or other air-conditioned space between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Anyone who sees someone on the street who may be having a reaction to the heat is asked to either get that person to a center or call 911 in the most extreme of examples.

South Bay residents and visitors are advised to take precautions and follow these safety tips:

1. Drink plenty of water and fluids with electrolytes even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol, caffeine or lots of sugar because they will speed up fluid loss.
2. Limit physical activity. Avoid physical activity during the hottest time of the day—10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
3. Never leave people or pets in a closed, parked car.
4. During peak heat hours, stay in an air-conditioned area. If you do not have access to air conditioning in your home, visit public facilities such as cooling centers, shopping malls, parks, and libraries to stay cool.
5. Visit http://bit.ly/Cooling-Centers for an interactive list of cooling centers in Santa Clara County. Cooling centers hours are subject to change, so please call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
6. Visit the Office of Emergency Management website for additional heat safety tips for adults, infants, and children, older adults and individuals with chronic medical conditions in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

The Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing staff is working with service providers to keep shelters open during the hottest time of the day. Outreach workers are making extra visits to encampments to distribute water and provide information about cooling centers and other services.

The Office of Supportive Housing website has much valuable information.

County Health and Human Services recommends those in need or someone helping them to call the hotline at 408-793-0550 to ask for assistance.