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.

Forecasted high temperatures for the Bay Area and portions of Northern California on Saturday, July 15, 2023. (Source: National Weather Service)

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.

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. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Phone: 925-516-5444.

San Francisco County

Several San Francisco libraries are open during the heat wave:

• Main Library — Address: 100 Larkin St., San Francisco, CA 94102. Hours: 10 a.m. to 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. to 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. to 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. to 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. to 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. to 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: 12-7 p.m.

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

• Vacaville Town Square Library — Address: 1 Town Square Place, Vacaville, CA 95688. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

• Vacaville Cultural Center Library — Address: 1020 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville, CA 95687. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 12-5 p.m. Sunday.

Sonoma County

• Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) Mary Isaak Center Address — 900 Hopper St., Petaluma, CA 94952. Hours: 11 a.m. to 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 online.

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. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday through Monday

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

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

• Palo Alto Art Center Auditorium — Address: 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303. Hours: 10 a.m. to 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. to 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday.

• Santa Clara Senior Center — Address: 1303 Fremont St., Santa Clara, CA 95050. Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 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.

Catherine Allen is a data intern through the Dow Jones News Fund. She is a rising senior at the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, with a major in journalism and minor in statistics. Catherine previously served as editor in chief of Mustang News, Cal Poly’s multimedia news organization. She is passionate about public policy’s impact on communities and individuals and often writes about housing and homelessness, public health and politics.