SEATTLE — With temperatures expected to dip near freezing over the weekend, many counties are preparing to serve people looking for shelter from the cold.
Temperatures dropped to the mid-20s to mid-30s around Puget Sound on Friday morning, according to Meteorologist Rich Marriott. At Sea-Tac Airport, it was 32 degrees, which tied for the coldest morning so far this fall (Sea-Tac also hit 32 degrees on the morning of Oct. 29).
The region could be a degree or two cooler the next few days, but not far from Friday morning’s low temperature, Marriott said. The cold overnight temperatures are driven by a cool air mass and skies staying mostly clear at night, which allows for more cooling.
Overall, western Washington should run 3-5 degrees below normal for high temperatures into next week and 5-10 degrees below normal for low temperatures. The normal high temperature at Sea-Tac for this time of year is 50 degrees, and the normal low is 39 degrees.
For those experiencing homelessness, such cold temps can be dangerous.
Cold weather shelter resources
For King County, click here.
For Snohomish County, click here.
For Thurston County, click here.
For Pierce County, click here.
King County activates Tier 2 warming shelters
King County is opening its cold weather shelters from Thursday night through Sunday for people who need a place to stay warm.
“It’s right on schedule to open the last week of November or the first week of December,” said Keith Hughes with the Westside Neighbors Shelter, which operates in the American Legion Hall.
This week’s call is a tier 2 severe weather protocol, which means existing homeless shelters expand their hours or overnight bed capacity to allow for more people to keep warm.
Tier 3 is when private Seattle properties like Seattle Center open up their doors. Last year, King County officials say tier 3 was called seven times for a total of 53 nights serving an average of 72 people per night.
“People are people. If we don't get them out of the freezing weather and out of the wet rain, give them something warm to wear, and some more nutritious food to eat, they don't have that opportunity to move on with their lives,” said Hughes.
Olympia Union Gospel Mission preps for sub-freezing temps
Olympia Union Gospel mission, which has been in operation since 1995, serves 20,000 meals a month. They also provide vision and dental treatment, as well as a warm place to sleep.
Executive Director Skip Steffen said the mission stays busy, especially in colder months, and tries to help as many people as possible.
"The shelter is pretty occupied, even during the summer months. Probably runs about 80% capacity," he said. "And then in the winter, it runs to about 100% capacity every night. So there isn't a lot of head space to take on extra people."
The need is often greater than demand, forcing shelters to make tough decisions when freezing temperatures rise and close their doors once they reach capacity.
"It's disappointing and you worry about them. Are they going to find a place to stay," said Steffen. "You don't like to turn people away, especially those that, they come to you and you can see that they're burdened, and yet, there's only so much you can do."
But those who make it into the shelters say they're grateful to have refuge from the cold.
"I wouldn't have any hope. That's the best way I can explain it. These guys gave me my hope back, so I volunteer every day and do whatever needs to be done," said Joe.