A Code Blue cold weather emergency has been declared for Montgomery County from December 18 at 9:00pm to Sunday, December 24 at 9:00am.

Accuweather’s latest forecast includes temperatures in the low to high 20s until December 24. No rain or snow is expected.

In related news, the Montgomery County Commissioners have changed the threshold for Code Blue declarations. Effective December 18, a Code Blue will be issued when overnight temperatures or wind chill are at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more.

The previous threshold was 20 degrees.

“Winter can be hard for many people, particularly the unhoused, seniors, and others who are more vulnerable in our society,” said Jamila H. Winder, Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “By changing the Code Blue threshold from 20 degrees to 32 degrees, we’ll be able to activate more Code Blue Shelters and offer a higher standard of safety for those who are unhoused.”  

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Public Health is responsible for declaring Code Blue emergencies based on monitoring of National Weather Service forecasts.

For general cold weather information in Montgomery County, you can click here.