NYC Activates Code Blue as Freezing Wind Chills Approach, Mayor Mamdani Emphasizes Shelter Access
New York City has activated its Code Blue protocol from 4 p.m. Friday, November 13, through 8 a.m. Saturday, November 14, in response to anticipated freezing temperatures and wind chills. The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures in Central Park to drop to approximately 36 degrees, with wind chills potentially reaching 34 degrees, and colder air expected to bring conditions closer to freezing. Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani stated that the city's priority is to ensure every New Yorker has a warm and safe place to stay. During Code Blue, drop-in centers, warming centers, and warming buses will be open, and outreach teams will distribute cold-weather supplies and connect individuals to shelter and support. NYC Health + Hospitals will also open warming centers at Bellevue, Elmhurst, and Harlem Hospitals, providing food, activities, and social workers.