How to Stay Safe in Cold Weather

View National Weather Service Forecast

The City of Boulder, in partnership with Boulder County and the Boulder Office of Disaster Management, will open a temporary 24-hour Extreme Weather Shelter on Saturday, Jan. 18 to ensure all unhoused community members seeking shelter have a space to get warm or spend the night. This measure is being taken because of forecasts that show below-zero low temperatures for at least three consecutive nights. Read more information on the Extreme Weather Shelter.

Find more information on critical weather conditions on the Homelessness Services page.

• Dress in layers to stay warm, wear a hat and cover skin. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
• Limit time outside and check on your neighbors.
• Bring your pets inside when the temperatures dip. Learn more about how to keep your dogs safe during winter.

When arctic air hits, water freezes, and as it freezes, it expands, causing pipes to burst and possibly flood.

Pipes that freeze most frequently are those that are exposed to severe cold. Here are some tips to help prevent frozen pipes before the temperatures plummet.

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater.
• Have a three-foot "kid-free zone" around open fires and space heaters.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.

• Check out the City of Boulder winter guide for a full round-up of information about winter in the city.
• Learn about preparing for emergencies in Boulder.