Ulster County emergency officials are urging residents to take precautions as dangerously cold temperatures are forecast to grip the region from late Friday night through Sunday night.
According to the Ulster County Department of Emergency Services, the National Weather Service is predicting an arctic air mass — expected to be the coldest of the season — will move into the area behind an arctic cold front. The system is expected to bring hazardous conditions, including wind chills well below the actual air temperature.
Snow showers and isolated snow squalls are possible Friday night into Saturday morning. Officials say strong winds on Saturday could lead to blowing and drifting snow, particularly at higher elevations. The combination of bitter cold and gusty winds increases the risk of hypothermia and frostbite and may also lead to infrastructure damage, including frozen or burst pipes.
As a result, Code Blue conditions will be in effect for all county warming centers.
The Kingston Warming Center, located at 2nda Iglesia La Mision Church at 80 Elmendorf Street, will continue operating 24 hours a day through March 31, with the option to extend if cold temperatures persist.
In Ellenville, the warming center at the Hunt Memorial Building, 124 Canal Street, will shift to 24-hour operations beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, February 5. That schedule will remain in place through 9 a.m. on Monday, February 9.
County officials are advising residents to limit time outdoors, bring pets inside, use heating equipment safely, check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors, and stay informed by monitoring local weather updates throughout the weekend.
The Kingston Warming Center can be reached at (845) 334-0551. The Family of Woodstock Hotline is also available at (845) 338-2370. Law enforcement and partner agencies may transport individuals directly to a warming center when needed.
More information about warming and cooling centers in Ulster County is available on the county’s website.