TAMPA, Fla. – As residents prepare to ring in 2026, Hillsborough County officials are urging those without a warm place to stay to seek shelter immediately. With temperatures expected to drop significantly tonight, the county has activated its cold weather emergency plan for New Year’s Eve, December 31.
The activation comes in response to a National Weather Service forecast predicting temperatures will fall to or below 40 degrees—including wind chill—for at least two consecutive hours overnight.
County officials issued a warning alongside the announcement: demand is expected to be high, and capacity at these emergency sites is limited. Organizers are asking residents to treat these shelters as a last resort. Anyone with friends or family who can offer a warm room is strongly encouraged to stay with them instead, ensuring that shelter beds remain available for the homeless and those living in homes without adequate heat…