Cold weather advisory in place for Salem Friday and Saturday, warming shelters to open

Temperatures are forecast to plunge to around 24 degrees both Friday and Saturday night, prompting a cold weather advisory for the Salem area.

Local warming shelters plan to open their doors both nights, and the National Weather Service asks that people bundle up and take safety precautions.

Widespread frost is expected Friday, Jan. 23, and Saturday, Jan. 24, which will be the coldest nights among a streak of cold weather that has kept Salem-area warming shelters open all week. Temperatures are expected to climb to the mid-40s during the day. 

The nighttime lows will remain around freezing Sunday and Monday nights, according to the National Weather Service’s forecast. 

Freezing temperatures can lead to frostbite and hypothermia.

The weather service advises that people check in on older family, friends and neighbors.

Someone experiencing hypothermia may not know that it’s happening. It can impact their ability to think clearly or move. Symptoms include shivering, exhaustion, memory loss and slurred speech, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Call 911 if someone is experiencing severe hypothermia. 

Do not use portable generators, grills, or oil burning furnaces indoors as a heating source, which can cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. 

See the Oregon Health Authority’s facts page for more cold weather safety tips.

Pets should stay indoors as much as possible, and outdoor animals should have access to a warm and dry shelter, with food and unfrozen water, according to the cold weather advisory.

Warming shelters

Salem’s overnight warming shelters activate when temperatures reach below freezing. Shelters will be open in Salem, Dallas and Woodburn. See their locations and their opening status here.

Salem First Presbyterian Church plans to open both Friday and Saturday nights in response to the cold weather. The church, at 770 Chemeketa St. N.E., will be open to adults over age 18 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. 

The church has been open every night since last Saturday. Each night, they serve dinner, usually a soup, and will have instant noodle cups, oatmeal and snack bars available.

“All of our nights of activation have been extremely peaceful and easy,” said shelter coordinator Sue Crothers in a text to Salem Reporter. “This is not a population to fear.”

The Seed of Faith Warming shelter at 1230 Winter St. N.E. will also be open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., according to a Facebook post from the city of Salem.

Cherriots will be offering free rides to and from the warming shelter. No documentation is needed; riders just need to tell the driver where they’re heading.

To sign up to receive warming shelter alerts from the action agency, text “Marion” or “Polk” to 503-946-3966. To reach the agency, call 503-399-9080.

The network is still in need of more volunteers, especially for overnight shifts. To learn more about how to volunteer, see the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency’s website.

The Santiam Warming Shelter is also seeking volunteers. See the Santiam Service Integration Facebook page for more information.

Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251.

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