Bay Area heat wave: Some East Bay parks preparing to close

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – The worst heat wave of the year is here and KRON4 is providing live team coverage all (the long) weekend.

Friday, Sept. 2

6 a.m. – Some Walnut Creek closes outdoor public spaces still open today

Many parks in the East Bay will still be open today, but come Sunday and Monday they will be closed because of high heat and fire danger. These include Wildcat Canyon, Tilden, Huckleberry and Anthony Chabot, except the campground. KRON4’s Will Tran has more.

5:45 a.m. – Wine Country deals with a hot harvest with early morning grape-picking

In the bid to beat the heat grape picking in Wine Country starts at 2 a.m. — when it’s still cool enough. Otherwise, the grapes might dehydrate. KRON4’s James Fletcher has more this morning:

4:05 a.m. – Student athletics have to adjust due to heat

The heat wave is coinciding with students returning to school. For student athletes this poses a particular challenge and KRON4’s Dan Thorn reports on how teams are adjusting.

Thursday, Sept. 1

5:25 p.m. – Walnut Creek adds to list of cooling centers as heat wave approaches

The list of options for people in Contra Costa County who need to beat the heat this weekend is growing. Walnut Creek will open Tice Gym near Rossmoor as a cooling center from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Read more here.

5 p.m. – Playground equipment in Livermore reaches 150 degrees

KRON4’s Philippe Djegal was at a playground in Livermore where a touch of the equipment can burn your skin. Swings were as hot as 118 degrees, and the seesaw registered at 153 degrees.

“The swings were good, but (my daughter) said the slides were pretty hot,” said mother Leah Lusk who was at Almond Park in Livermore before noon.

3:00 p.m. – NWS upgrades some areas from Heat Watch to a Heat Advisory

The Weather Service now dropped the heat watch for the coast and replaced it with a Heat Advisory for the Marin Coastal Range and the SF Bay Shoreline. 

2:35 p.m. – BART Antioch Line delayed due to heat

BART is experiencing a 10-minute delay on the Antioch Line in the Antioch and SFO directions due to the excessive heat conditions, the transit authority announced in a tweet. Earlier this year, a train derailed on the Antioch Line due to high heat.

2:15 p.m. – PG&E: No public safety power shutoffs this week

A PG&E representative told KRON4 there are no public safety power shutoffs planned for this week. Public safety power shutoffs are tired to wildfire conditions, which are triggered by factors other than just heat that include humidity and high winds. Current forecasts indicate no shutoffs, despite the sweltering heat gripping much of the Bay Area this week.

10:45 a.m. – Cooling centers open across the Bay Area

As the Bay Area enters the worst heat wave of the year, KRON4 has assembled a list of cooling centers where people can get a respite from the scorching temps. Find a cooling center near you.

10:10 a.m. – National Weather Service warns of dangerous heat over the holiday weekend

The NWS Bay Area has warned of an extended period of dangerous heat that will last into next week.

9:55 a.m. – Walnut Creek closes outdoor public spaces through Labor Day weekend

The City of Walnut Creek will be closing its Open Spaces through Labor Day weekend due to the Excessive Heat Warning going into effect, the city announced Wednesday in a tweet. The city’s open spaces, including Lime Ridge, Shell Ridges and Acalanes Ridge, will be closed through Sept. 6, when the warning is lifted, the tweet states. Read more here.

9 a.m. – Tips for staying say during dangerous heat

• Drink plenty of water and beverages containing electrolytes, even if you aren’t thirsty
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine or lots of sugar
• Limit physical activity from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Wear light, loose-fitting cothing
• Wear sunglasses and sunscreen
• Check in on your family, friends and neighbors
• Check your medications to see if you should stay out of heat while taking them; remember, stimulants will increase your body temperature

For more helpful info, read the story below:

6:32 a.m. – Tips for keeping kids safe outdoors during dangerous heat

• Drinking plenty of water or sports drinks
• Wearing lightweight, light-colored clothing
• Avoiding outdoor activities between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Using air conditioning and remaining in cool places during the day

For more info, read the story below:

6 a.m. – Cooling centers open in Morgan Hills

Cooling centers and libraries are stepping up across the Bay Area to not only keep people comfortable and — let’s face it — keep people alive when they are stuck inside their hot home.

The Morgan Hill cooling center, at the Centennial Recreation Center at 171 W. Edmundson Ave, will be open 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

San Jose’s Camden Community Center at 3369 Union Ave. isn’t opening till Saturday. It will be open 1 pm. to 9 p.m.

In the East Bay there are cooling centers in Livermore, Dublin and Alameda, including the Dublin Senior Center at 7600 Amador Valley Blvd., which will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.