Bay Area gearing up for hot weekend ahead as some areas will see multiple days of triple-digit heat
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KGO) -- People in the East Bay are gearing up for what will be a hot weekend as temperatures are expected to reach triple digits in some spots.
Temperatures in Walnut Creek and other East Bay towns will push into the 90s and on Saturday they could exceed triple digits.
RELATED: Excessive Heat Warning in Bay Area this weekend with dangerous temps inland
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a Spare the Air alert for Friday and Saturday. They are asking people to be mindful of the time spent outside and if they can - avoid driving.
"The combination of sunlight, high temperatures and vehicle exhaust create smog and it tends to occur when the temperatures are high for an extended period of time," said Landis.
The district is also advising people with respiratory conditions to limit time outside as the air quality could reach unhealthy levels.
VIDEO: Caring for livestock, pets at home amid triple-digit heat
Amid the heat event, ABC7 met with two different animal rescue groups who are both taking extra precautions to protect their animals as things are expected to get even hotter over the weekend.
"You want to constantly check your water troughs and you want to see how much water they're drinking every day and the other thing is, when you turn your hoses on, you've got to remember your hose has been sitting in the sun," Chantel Tieman, chief of operations and co-founder of Hold Your Horses Livestock Emergency Rescue Team said. "That's scorching water so you'll want to make sure to cool that down before you put it in the water trough because horses don't want to drink warm water."
And she's got some tricks to make sure all livestock stay hydrated, starting with homemade popsicles with watermelon or carrots, creating a mud pit for their potbelly pig with cold water, hosing down hay and feeding their horses pellet electrolytes every night.
"We'll soak their fly masks so that the ears are wet, it gets wet around their neck, that helps cool them down," Tieman said. "You can hose their legs down, you don't really want to hose the main part of them because you don't want them to cramp up and then we hose the roofs down so that water is constantly dripping on them."
And for pets at home, the Animal Rescue Foundation out of Walnut Creek recommends only walking your dogs in the early mornings and late evenings in order to avoid the hottest part of the day.
MORE: How extreme heat takes a toll on the mind and body, according to experts
"And when you're unsure if it's too hot to walk your dog, we recommend touching the asphalt with the back of your hand to give a test of how hot it is," Cole Kuiper, a spokesperson for the Animal Rescue Foundation said. "If it's too hot for the back of your hand, it's definitely too hot for your pets' paws."
They're urging pet owners to not leave their dogs in hot cars and to look out for signs of heat stress or heatstroke after going outside.
The warning signs include frequent panting or drooling, fatigue, wobbliness, fainting or vomiting.
"It's easy to just be worried about how hot you are, how hot your house is and forget that for as stressed you are about the situation, your animals are far more stressed, they don't know what's going on, they don't know why it's so hot so make sure they're comfortable," Kuiper said.
If your animal is showing any warning signs of heat stroke, the Animal Rescue Foundation says to bring them inside, get them cool water and contact your local emergency vet right away.
VIDEO: 'Gatorade and hope': North Bay bracing for weekend of extreme heat
In the North Bay, keeping cool is top priority this weekend. Shelters and city pools are staying open later to give people relief.
"It's a nice place to cool off," said Ann Skinner from Petaluma.
Skinner and her grandson Johnny were in dire need of some pool time at the Petaluma Swim Center.
"Johnny likes the water, I'm taking care of him for three days," Skinner said.
The next three days could bring some extreme heat. Lifeguards are ready for the crowds.
"It hasn't been too hot this year but I'm expecting this weekend to get busy," said lifeguard Quinn Hyland.
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First responders from across Sonoma County were taking part in an all-day training drill which involved an active shooter scenario. The heat of the day intensified the exercise for dozens of volunteers.
"They have water inside the libraries that's where we've been hanging out if we're not out here," said Alex Ramirez.
There was lots of hydration on hand for everyone taking part.
"This is a great training opportunity for everyone, we want to make sure it's productive and comfortable for everybody," said Petaluma Fire Battalion Chief Matt Martin.
Across town, Randy Clay was checking on the unhoused living on the streets of Petaluma and bringing them refreshment
LIST: Find Bay Area cooling centers near you amid triple-digit weather
He's an outreach worker from the Mary Isaac Center, providing care and support to the unsheltered.
"A lot of times people over here are overheated and don't know it, headache, possible stroke," said Clay.
For Mike who is unhoused, the check-in from Randy means a lot, especially on a day like this.
"It's brutal to be out in it all day for sure, a Gatorade and a little hope that things can get better, that's huge," said Mike.
The Mary Isaac Center in Petaluma will open a cooling shelter this weekend for those seeking relief.
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