Extreme Cold Blue Issued As Dangerously Cold Temps Hit Buffalo

Winter in the Empire State has been pretty extreme this year. Not only have we seen large amounts of snowfall all over the state, but arctic air has also had the region in a near-death grip for the last few weeks. Some of the coldest air in years have been hitting the entire state, from Boston, New York, to The Bronx, New York. It has been several days since the area has seen temperatures above freezing.

After a brief warmup when temperatures increased from single digits to the mid-20s, we're back in the deep freezer, and things are going to be so cold that officials from local, county, and state government are ringing the alarm.

The weather is going to turn so cold that people should be extra diligent if they have to be outside, which is why Buffalo has issued an Extreme Weather Cold Blue for the weekend.

Extreme Cold Blue Issued For The Weekend

For the sixth day in a row this month, the City of Buffalo has issued a Code Blue. According to the WNY Coalition for the Homeless, a Code Blue is Erie County and the City of Buffalo's cold weather emergency safety plan that provides outreach, transportation, shelter, and a warm meal to individuals in our community who are unhoused on evenings when temperatures or wind chill fall to 32 degrees or below.

With temperatures expected to be near zero and wind chills between -20 and -25, officials are opening up daytime emergency warming centers and overnight shelters and going around the city in outreach teams to highly encourage anyone who is unhoused to come in from the cold.

The Cold Blue shelter, located at 100 E Tupper Street in downtown Buffalo, will be open from 7pm. until 7am, plus breakfast served from 7am-8am, and the daytime warming and resource Center at 100 E Tupper Street will be open from 9am-5pm with dinner being served at 5pm.

You can find more information about the Code Blue system and donate to help those in need here on the WNY Coalition for the Homeless website.