Find Posts By Topic

Ahead of Winter Weather with Dangerously Cold Temperatures, Mayor Durkan Signs Emergency Proclamation

Seattle (December 24, 2021) – In anticipation of snow and extreme cold weather over the next several days into the New Year, Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan has signed an emergency proclamation. The National Weather Service is predicting dangerously cold temperatures with highs strugglingly to reach freezing beginning Sunday through Wednesday. NWS is also predicting snow fall to hit the region beginning Saturday, December 25.

“After a year of unprecedented challenges, Seattle is facing a long duration of dangerously cold temperatures and snow. At the City, our city employees are starting 24/7 shifts to prepare for ice, snow, and freezing temperatures. For this winter weather emergency, our crews and employees are available to keep our community safe and warm, but if you don’t need to travel or gather, please don’t as we’re facing dual emergencies of COVID-19 and freezing temperatures,” said Mayor Durkan.

Under this winter weather emergency, Mayor Durkan also signed a new emergency order to provide incentives of at least $150 for frontline workers and human service providers who will be working in person and staffing emergency shelters and warming centers during the holidays and surge of Omicron. In addition to previously announced shelters and warming centers, the City of Seattle will be opening additional warming centers across the city including Seattle City Hall, International District/Chinatown Community Center, Magnuson Building #406, Northgate Community Center, and Rainier Beach Community Center. With staffing challenges across service providers, Mayor Durkan also announced that the City of Seattle will be supplementing staffing at overnight shelters and warming centers. You can find an update on city operations here.