Hillsborough to keep cold weather shelters open Wednesday night as temps plunge
Hillsborough County opened cold weather shelters on Tuesday and Wednesday nights after a cold front dropped overnight low temperatures into the 40s in some parts of the Tampa Bay area.
The shelters are for people who don’t have homes or for those who have homes without adequate heat. Officials in other bay area counties did not announce any cold weather shelter openings.
The low temperature at Tampa International Airport dropped to 45 early Wednesday. It wasn’t quite as cold in St. Petersburg, where lows bottomed out in the low 50s, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters expected the low in Tampa early Thursday to be in the mid-40s again, though the weather is expected to warm during the day Thursday, when highs will climb into the mid-70s by the afternoon. Overnight lows Thursday into Friday will be in the mid-60s and highs Friday and over the weekend are expected to be in the low 80s. Rain chances are minimal at about 20%, according to Spectrum Bay News 9.
“Shelter organizers are expecting high demand with limited capacity, so residents who need a warm place to stay are encouraged to use all resources like friends and family as a first option,” county officials said in a news release.
Officials said the shelters will open at 6 p.m. and will take in people until 8 p.m. unless they reach capacity first.
The shelters are for adults only. Metropolitan Ministries also will supply a limited number of single-night motel vouchers on a first-come, first-served basis for families with minor children. Families with minor children should call 813-209-1176.
The locations are:
Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 500 W. Platt St., Tampa.
Tampa Bay Mission of Hope 212 S. St. Cloud Ave. Building A, Valrico
New Life Church (Pet Friendly) 8216 N. 13th St. Tampa
Legacy Church (New Location) 3416 N. 15th St., Tampa
