Freeze Warning Map (National Weather Service)
Temperatures are taking a dive below freezing for parts of the Bay Area for several nights this week. A Freeze Warning is in place for the North Bay interior valleys and mountains for Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties. The National Weather Service says overnight lows could drop into the upper 20s for some areas through Thursday night. Forecasters say frost and freezing conditions could damage or kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
The city of Santa Rosa along with Catholic Charities have opened a warming center on 610 Wilson Street. It will be open from 8 PM to 7 AM each night through Friday morning. They emphasize, though, that this is not a sleeping location.
Meanwhile, the North Bay’s grape growers are preparing for several days of freezing temperatures that could damage their crops. The National Weather Service says it will be cold enough to damage sensitive plants. Grape farmers also had to deal with unseasonable heat earlier this month, which they believed caused an early bud break on their vines. Farmers may use wind machines to push warmer air above their grape vines, or sprinkle them with water so they’re coated with ice. That way the temperature stays at a constant 32-degrees to prevent further damage.