Sonoma County’s cold weather to continue through early next week

Don’t put away those heavy coats yet. Cold temperatures will be sticking around for at least a couple more days.

Forecasters on Friday issued freeze warnings for much of the state, including the North Bay. Temperatures are expected to drop into the upper to mid-20s in Santa Rosa and continue into Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures could dip to 29 degrees Friday night, said Duane Dykema, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. Saturday night will be coldest, at 25 degrees, he said.

It should start to warm up by midweek, Dykema said. Temperatures should reach the mid- to upper 40s, he said.

Residents also could see some rainfall Tuesday or Wednesday, Dykema said. However, he said, “It doesn’t look like anything too significant.”

Forecasters anticipated below-freezing weather for Thanksgiving, but temperatures remained at 45 degrees. Winds gusting up to 35 mph kept the temperature from dropping, Dykema said.

“We thought the winds would drop off after midnight, but they kept going all night,” he said.

The cold weather earlier this week triggered the county’s emergency cold weather response plan, which expanded the capacity at homeless shelters and provided warming stations to help people sleeping outdoors stay warm.

Warming stations have been set up since Tuesday at Santa Rosa’s Homeless Services Center at 600 Morgan St.

“We have 60 or so coming in every night - about half of them are sleeping there at night,” said Jennielynn Holmes-Davis, homeless services and housing manager for Catholic Charities, which spearheads the county’s cold weather response plan.

“We had a slew of very sick people who I don’t think would have made it through the cold,” Holmes added. “One of them came in with pneumonia. He could barely stand.”

With the “code blue” response in place until Sunday, she said they’re able to temporarily house families in the dining room of their A Street facility. So far, they’ve taken in four families, totaling 26 people, she said.

Holmes-Davis said she’s worried about the forecast for Saturday, particularly for homeless people with health problems.

“We’re telling people to find a safe place - go to a shelter or come to us,” she said. “It’s a health emergency. If anyone sees somebody in need, give us a call. Help spread the word.”

For a list of warming stations and shelter options or to request warm clothes and blankets, call 855-707-4678, or 211.

Catholic Charities, which spearheads the county’s cold weather response plan, also needs donations, including coats, gloves, hats and socks. Call 800-2372 to donate supplies or request help.

“We’ve probably handed out over 300 pieces of cold weather gear over the last few days,” Holmes-Davis said, adding that their supplies are running low.

You can reach Staff Writer Eloísa Ruano González at 521-5458 or eloisa.gonzalez@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @eloisanews.