Cold Weather Safety
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Cold weather including damaging winds, rain, hail, flooding, flash flooding and winter storms can happen anytime in Santa Clara County. Winter storms and cold temperatures can be dangerous. Stay safe and healthy by planning ahead. Equip your home and vehicles with emergency supply kits, prepare for power outages and check on older adult family members and friends who may be more vulnerable to cold weather impacts.
REGISTER FOR EMERGENCY OR DISASTER ALERTS
Important Contact Numbers
- Call 2-1-1 United Way Bay Area: for health and human services in Santa Clara County.
- Call the County of Santa Clara, Here 4 You Call Center hotline (408) 385-2400 for assistance.
- HomeFirst Homeless Helpline: E-mail Home First Helpline at [email protected] to access the City of San Jose's Overnight Warming Location (OWL) program. HomeFirst’s Outreach team provides access to emergency shelter, showers, laundry, meals, medical services, case management, employment training, and more.
Find a Warming Center
Warming Centers will be listed here when there is an emergency cold weather event as information from community partners is received.
Libraries and Community Centers
The City of San José libraries and select community centers are operating as Warming Centers during regular business hours. Find hours and locations by clicking one of the buttons below.
FIND A LIBRARY FIND A COMMUNITY CENTER
Office of Supportive Housing
For information on shelter locations and warming centers around Santa Clara County, go to the Office of Supportive Housing site.
Overnight Warming Locations
During inclement weather, warming centers, and expanded shelter services are available and a list of warming centers and shelters will appear below. Please call 2-1-1 for information on expanded shelters and additional services in Santa Clara County.
Due to the rain and cold temperatures, especially in South Santa Clara County areas, the County Office of Supportive Housing is securing additional after-hours shelter beds for people experiencing homelessness.
The County operates a Cold Weather Shelter Program during the winter months. Please call the Here4You Hotline at 408-385-2400 for a referral.
County libraries are open as Cooling & Warming Centers during regular business hours.
Additional Warming Center Locations:
City of Cupertino:
Cupertino Library
10800 Torre Ave., Cupertino, CA 95014
Hours of Operation:
Saturday, January 25, from 10am – 6:30pm
Sunday, January 26, from 10am – 6:30pm
Monday, January 27, from 10am – 9pm
City of Gilroy:
Gilroy Library
350 W. 6th St., Gilroy, CA 95020
Hours of Operation:
Saturday, January 25, from 10am – 6pm
Sunday, January 26, from 1pm – 5pm
Monday, January 27, from 1pm – 9pm
City of Milpitas:
Milpitas Library
160 N. Main St., Milpitas, CA 95035
Hours of Operation:
Saturday, January 25, from 10am – 7pm
Sunday, January 26, from 10am– 7pm
Monday, January 27, from 10am – 9pm
City of Los Altos:
Woodland Library
1975 Grant Rd., Los Altos, CA 94024
Hours of Operation:
Sunday, January 26, from 11am – 5pm
Monday, January 27, from 11am – 8pm
Los Altos Library
13 S. San Antonio Rd, Los Altos, CA 94022
Hours of Operation:
Saturday, January 25, from 10am – 7pm
Sunday, January 26, from 10am – 7pm
Monday, January 27, from 10am – 9pm
City of Morgan Hill:
Morgan Hill Library
660 W. Main Ave., Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Hours of Operation:
Saturday, January 25, from 10am – 6pm
Sunday, January 26, from 1pm – 5pm
Monday, January 27, from 12pm – 9pm
Cold Weather Safety Tips
- Avoid being outside during the coldest part of the day, or for extended periods of time in extreme cold weather
- Dress in layers
- Wear a hat, scarf and gloves/mittens
- Wear waterproof, insulated boots to avoid hypothermia or frostbite
- Get out of wet clothes as soon as possible
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol if you will be staying outside
Other Services
We expand outreach and services for the homeless to reduce instances of hypothermia and frostbite caused by extreme weather including the cold, wind and rain. Many of the homeless reside in encampments in creek areas and are at increased risk due to health conditions.
Components of the Inclement Weather Plan include expanded shelter services, continued outreach to encampments by the County’s Valley Homeless Healthcare Program and overnight warming centers.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a medical emergency that happens when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is about 98.6 F, and hypothermia occurs when your body temperature drops below 95 F.
People who are 65 and older or very young children are at a higher risk of hypothermia. Alcohol, drug use, and medications can also increase the risk of hypothermia. Left untreated, hypothermia limits your nervous system from working correctly. It can cause a complete failure of your heart, respiratory system, and it can even be fatal.
Symptoms of hypothermia are:
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Exhaustion
- Severe shivering
- Clumsiness and lack of coordination
- Slurred speech or mumbling
- Drowsiness or very low energy
- Weak pulse
- Slow, shallow breathing
- Progressive loss of consciousness
Seek medical attention if you experience these symptoms.
What Triggers a Cold Weather Activation?
Cold weather can create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. In certain areas, winter storms can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and high winds. Santa Clara County has experienced its fair share of extreme cold weather and has opened warming centers throughout the County to provide community members with a warm and safe space to take shelter.
An Cold Weather Activation is triggered when:
- Temperatures with a low of 40 degrees or lower with a probability of rain of at least 5%.
- Cold Watch or Cold Advisory issued by the National Weather Service endanger lives of those living outside.
- Overnight low of 35 degrees or lower for two or more days that would endanger the lives of those living in places not fit for human habitation such as living outside or in vehicles.
- Heavy and continuous rainfall over two or more days that would cause soil saturation and flooding.
- Overnight low of 45 degrees or lower with a probability of rain 50% or higher are certainly triggers for opening Warming Centers.
When weather conditions are within range of the triggers, a member of the CRT will contact the National Weather Service to receive a detailed and current forecast. If conditions warrant, the CRT member will contact the OEM Duty Officer.