Baltimore Winter 2026-27: Shelter rules and new snow protocols
City officials unveiled updated cold-weather plans Monday, citing 18 deaths and an $80 million storm cleanup bill from last season.
By Christopher Singh ·
Baltimore residents will see different shelter hours and snow removal tactics starting Nov. 15, as the city launches its 2026-27 winter plan. The new protocols follow a difficult previous season in which 18 people died from cold-related causes and a January storm cost the city approximately $80 million to clean up.
Officials gathered Monday at the North Avenue salt dome to explain the changes. Mayor Brandon Scott told the group, “It is never, never, never, never too early to get prepared for winter weather.” The city now distinguishes between two specific alerts to manage resources more effectively.
Code Purple is triggered by the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services when temperatures or wind chill reach freezing. This alert opens emergency shelters and warming centers. Code Blue is a higher-level alert declared by the Health Department when temperatures drop to about 13 degrees or lower. Last winter, the city recorded 78 Code Purple days and 21 Code Blue days, according to Homeless Services Director Ernestina Simmons and Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Taylor.
Shelter operations will run from 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. on declared nights. Sites such as the Weinberg Housing and Resource Center for single women and MCVET for single men will remain open longer if the temperature is 20 degrees or colder at the 9 a.m. release time. Daytime options include Beans & Bread on South Bond Street and the Franciscan Center on West 23rd Street.
Interim Transportation Director Berke Attila announced that the department has revised plow routes and contractor usage after the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern. The city will now prioritize direct plow routes to active shelters. Emergency Management Director Joey Henderson stated that improved communication between the Emergency Operations Center and field crews is the primary goal of the update.
Officials recommended that households stock 72 hours of food, water, and medication, along with blankets and flashlights. Dr. Taylor advised residents to dress in loose layers and wear mittens to prevent frostbite. The city will test the new snow plan in a December exercise, while households can sign up for BMORE Alert or call 311 to track daily status.
The winter shelter season officially begins Nov. 15 and runs through March 15. The National Weather Service indicates that parts of the mid-Atlantic could see measurable snow later this week, which may trigger the first alerts of the season.
