Baltimore issues Code Blue extreme cold alert as warming centers and emergency shelter options activate citywide

Code Blue declared amid forecast wind chills in single digits

Baltimore entered a Code Blue Extreme Cold Alert covering Monday evening, January 19, 2026, through Wednesday morning, January 21, 2026, after forecasts indicated wind chills dropping into the teens and single digits. City officials use the Code Blue designation to trigger an expanded cold-weather response intended to reduce the risk of hypothermia, frostbite and other cold-related emergencies, particularly for residents who are unhoused, older, very young, or living without reliable heat.

The City’s Code Blue threshold is tied to wind chill: an alert may be declared when forecast temperatures, including wind chill, are expected to fall below 13 degrees Fahrenheit, or when conditions are otherwise severe enough to create significant risk to health. The designation is intended to align multiple agencies and community providers around shelter access, warming locations, outreach and basic safety measures during periods of dangerous cold.

Warming centers operating during winter shelter activation

During the current winter shelter activation, several community-based facilities are operating as warming centers, with schedules that vary by site:

• Beans & Bread, 400 S. Bond St. (weekdays, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.)
• Franciscan Center, 101 W. 23rd St. (weekdays, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.)
• Manna House, 435 E. 25th St. (weekdays, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.)
• My Sister’s Place Women’s Center, 17 W. Franklin St. (daily, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; women and children only)
• Weinberg Housing & Resource Center, 620 Fallsway (daily, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.)

The Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services reported that winter shelter activation has been extended until Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., reflecting the expectation of continued hazardous conditions during the period covered by the Code Blue alert.

How overnight shelter access is coordinated

For overnight emergency shelter, the city’s process requires residents to connect through the Baltimore City Shelter Hotline (443-984-9540). During activation days, hotline hours are extended to Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday–Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Residents can also call 311 or 211 for shelter information, service requests and help locating available resources.

City guidance during Code Blue emphasizes staying indoors when possible, dressing in layers, and checking on neighbors who may be at higher risk.

Public health risks and safety steps emphasized during Code Blue

Health officials warn that cold-related injuries can develop quickly during prolonged exposure, especially for infants and older adults. City safety messaging during Code Blue periods also stresses home heating precautions, including keeping space heaters and open flames away from flammable materials, ensuring carbon monoxide detectors work properly, and avoiding the use of stoves or generators for indoor heating.

State officials have reported five cold-related deaths in Baltimore City so far during the current Code Blue season, underscoring the potentially life-threatening nature of sustained extreme cold.