What is a Code Blue Alert?

A CODE BLUE ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE FOLLOWING DAYS:

January 16, 2024 to January 21, 2024

When temperatures in Scranton are expected to drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit a “Code Blue Alert” is issued. These alerts are how we communicate to residents that extremely cold conditions will impact the City of Scranton and to warn everyone, especially those most vulnerable to cold weather, like the homeless or elderly, about the severe cold.

The decision to declare a Code Blue Alert in often follows the alerts issued by Lackawanna County, but sometimes, Scranton might issue its own Code Blue if we expect weather conditions that could be particularly harsh for our city’s residents.

The Department of Homeless Services and ReadyPA.gov recommend that a Code Blue Alerts be declared if snow predictions of 12” or more are in the forecast and any time a combination of rain, sleet, snow, with temperatures of 32 degrees (with windchill) are forecasted.