Code Blue issued in NYC as freezing temperatures arrive
NEW YORK (PIX11) -- The unusually warm stretch at the end of 2024 is officially over, with frigid winter temperatures settling in to start the new year.
Overnight temperatures into Friday are expected to sink below freezing, prompting the Department of Homeless Services to issue a Code Blue.
Wind gusts will also make air temperature feel even colder. Forecasts suggest it may feel like 20 degrees outside by early Friday morning.
Code Blue is in effect until 8 a.m. Friday. Shelters and drop-in centers will be available city-wide for the homeless and those seeking shelter. No one will be denied shelter during a Code Blue.
The NYCDHS will deploy outreach teams to assist homeless individuals. If you encounter a homeless person in the cold, please call 311, and an outreach team will be sent to that location.
More information on homeless assistance can be found online or on the 311 app.
Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.