Adam Thompson is a digital content producer for CBS Baltimore.
A Code Blue Extreme Cold Alert has been issued for Baltimore City from Monday through Wednesday, as dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills are expected to affect the state this week.
The alert will be in effect from Monday evening through Wednesday morning.
WJZ's First Alert Weather Team forecasts that Monday and Tuesday nights will be the coldest nights of the winter.
Overnight lows will fall to the low-to-mid teens, but the wind will make it feel like it's in the single digits, with a few spots feeling like it is near or just before zero degrees.
High temperatures on Tuesday will only peak in the 20s, but the wind chill will make the temperature feel like its in the low teens or single digits.
The Baltimore City health commissioner declares Code Blue Extreme Cold Alerts when temperatures, including the wind chill, fall below 13 degrees, or causes a severe risk for those who must be outside for prolonged amount of time.
"With freezing temperatures expected, the Health Department has declared a Code Blue Extreme Cold alert to protect residents, expand access to warming centers, and ensure no one is left out in the cold," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said. "We want to ensure all residents -- especially our most vulnerable residents, children, older adults and pets -- take additional measures to safeguard themselves and loved ones."
The Code Blue Extreme Cold Alert allows the city to provide warming centers and shelters for those who need assistance, including those experiencing homelessness.
In Anne Arundel County, the following warming locations will open when the forecast calls for prolonged cold temperatures:
The following Anne Arundel County Public Library branch locations will serve as warming centers during their normal hours of operation:
Pets are not allowed at any of the listed facilities, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Residents can contact the Crisis Warmline at (410) 768-5522 or find more information here.
Baltimore City Winter Shelters
In Baltimore, warming shelters are activated when the wind chill reaches 32 degrees or below.
Here's where you can find a shelter in Baltimore:
The following locations provide overnight shelter:
Overnight shelters will provide accommodations between 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. the next morning.
Residents seeking a winter shelter can call the Baltimore City Shelter Hotline at 443-984-9540 or find more information online here.
Baltimore County Winter Shelters
Baltimore County's Freezing Weather Shelter Plan is active for the season and will remain active through April 15.
The following shelters will open when the forecast calls for freezing temperatures below 32 degrees:
Homeless residents in Baltimore County can call 410-887-8463, Option 1, to identify additional shelters.
According to county leaders, there is a limited number of beds available. Find more information here.
Code Blue Shelter is activated during nights with extreme weather, when temperatures dip below 26 degrees.
Residents can reach the Grassroots crisis line at 410-531-6677 or walk into the crisis center at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A, in Columbia for more information.