New Hampshire Prepares for Coldest Temperatures in Years as Shelters Extend Hours

Emergency shelters and warming centers across New Hampshire are extending hours to meet surging demand as an arctic cold snap takes hold over New England.

State leaders warn that dangerously cold conditions are expected to arrive this weekend. They are calling the forecasted temperatures, with daytimes high only in the teens and low 20s, the coldest in years and urging citizens to prepare.

"We are asking people to be responsible about the time that they spend outdoors," said Vanessa Palange of New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management in a statement shared with WMUR News 9.

Officials urge residents to dress in warm layers, monitor their outdoor time, and assemble an emergency car kit with food, blankets, and extra clothing. Health officials warn that cold exposure can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, and pneumonia.

Practical cold-weather tips for households include keeping curtains open during the day to let sunlight warm interiors, closing unused doors, and placing towels or blankets at the bottoms of doors to reduce heat loss.

The Concord Coalition to End Homelessness reports near-capacity conditions at shelters all winter. It is offering extended hours at its resource center and is collaborating with the Friendly Kitchen to serve unhoused residents. "The health effects of this are more than just keeping people from freezing to death," said the organization's executive director, Karen Jantzen.

Residents can call 211 to locate nearby shelters and warming stations open statewide.