Winter Weather Advisory Forces Buffalo To Issue Another Code Blue

Just when those around Buffalo and Western New York thought that winter was over and done with, the National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory as a reminder that the high winds, cold temps, and snow that routinely hit the region are on their way back.

As large parts of the Buffalo region recover from gale warnings and high winds that knocked out power all over Erie County, frigid temperatures are rolling back into the region, and that is poised to create a problem with the people in Buffalo who often suffer most when it's cold outside.

Buffalo Issues Cold Blue As Winter Weather & Sub-Freezing Temperatures Are Coming Back To Town

Between the morning hours on Monday, March 16, 2026, and Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the temperatures are expected to drop by more than 40°, pummeling the area with below-freezing air that is going to make things pretty hard on people. As hard as it will be for those who are able to prepare for the weather, it will be even worse for the homeless and unhoused in Western New York.

READ MORE: All of Western New York Now Under Major Winter Weather Advisory

City of Buffalo and non-profit officials have issued a Code Blue. According to the WNY Coalition for the Homeless, a Code Blue is Erie County and the City of Buffalo's cold weather emergency safety plan that provides outreach, transportation, shelter, and a warm meal to individuals in our community who are unhoused on evenings when temperatures or wind chill fall to 32 degrees or below.

With temperatures expected to be in the teens, with even colder windchills, officials are once again opening up daytime emergency warming centers and overnight shelters and going around the city in outreach teams to highly encourage anyone who is unhoused to come in from the cold. The Cold Blue shelter, located at 100 E Tupper Street in downtown Buffalo, will be open from 7 pm. until 7 am, plus breakfast served from 7 am - 8 am, and the daytime warming and resource Center at 100 E Tupper Street will be open from 9 am - 5 pm with dinner being served at 5 pm.

There are other shelters open around the city, and you can find a full list of them and their locations here on the 211WNY website.

You can find more information about the Code Blue system and donate to help those in need here on the WNY Coalition for the Homeless website.

KEEP READING: Wild Winds Knock Out Power To Thousands In Western New York