Frigid temperatures won't end soon

The week got off to a bone-chilling start Monday, when sometime before 4 a.m., the mercury dipped to 19 degrees at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — besting the 44-year-old record low of 20 degrees set Dec. 15, 1964.

On Friday, there might be another record low temperature — if the forecast holds true with an anticipated 16-degree low at the airport. That would be 1 degree colder than the record low of 17 degrees set Dec. 19, 1990.

The cold snap has been particularly difficult for the region's thousands of homeless people, who have crammed emergency indoor shelters that opened Friday in anticipation of the cold.

Those shelters are likely to stay open for several days as the severe cold continues.

For today, the forecast calls for sunshine with highs hovering around 30, lows in the 20s and a chance of snow.

On Wednesday, the highs should be in the lower 30s, but the big news is that there is at least an 80 percent chance of snow for much of Western Washington — maybe 1 to 2 inches, according to the National Weather Service — thanks to a weather system from northern British Columbia that will begin moving south.

While temperatures might warm up a bit by Wednesday night, they're expected to drop back into the 20s, said meteorologist Johnny Burg.

Cold arctic air will remain through the end of the week, with daytime highs not likely to get above freezing and nighttime lows dropping into the single digits in some places, according to Monday's forecast.

Icy roads

After Wednesday's snow, those cold temperatures could create treacherous driving conditions as any remaining moisture turns to ice, according to the weather service.

Thankfully, the recent cold snap across the Seattle area hasn't been accompanied by high wind.

That's good news because the cold coupled with widespread power outages would create miserable conditions for a lot of people, Burg said.

So far, there has been enough indoor shelter for homeless people seeking respite, said David Takami, spokesman for the city's Human Services Department.

On Friday, Seattle opened a shelter at City Hall and another at Seattle Center. Other shelters have opened in outlying regions.

Seattle estimates it spends just under $2,500 a night to operate the shelters.

Nickelsville crowded

There was a slight breeze Monday afternoon, which made the 28-degree temperature feel even more bitterly cold for those huddled in a University District church-owned parking lot at the corner of Northeast 45th Street and 15th Avenue Northeast.

That's home to the latest incarnation of Nickelsville, the homeless camp that sprang up Sept. 22 in Seattle's industrial South End.

The founders dubbed the encampment after Mayor Greg Nickels to protest what they believe is his failure to ease the homeless problem.

Not all the region's homeless are seeking shelter.

To gain entry, one must follow the rules. And some of those rules keep some of the homeless away.

For example, if you are a couple not wanting to be separated — as couples are, even at coed shelters — places like Nickelsville allow you to share a tent.

That's why Terry Ousley, and his wife, Tracey, were quite happy at the encampment.

A city shelter with indoor heating certainly would be warmer, said Ousley, "but they won't let her stay close to me."

Rules bar pets at shelters

Pets are not allowed at emergency shelters. The homeless camp currently hosts one dog, a Lab named Spud, and five or six cats.

On Monday, There were 84 tents and some 100 occupants on this lot owned by the University Congregational United Church of Christ, which for three months ending March 5 has agreed to host the encampment.

The church said Nickelsville "has been running smoothly."

And despite the cold, the residents seemed content.

On Monday afternoon, a dozen people huddled around a couple of barbecues that were burning donated firewood, rubbing their hands as smoke swirled around them.

One person was heating up an open can of spaghetti, another was grilling a hamburger, and somebody else was scrambling eggs.

Behind the barbecues, there was a forlorn-looking artificial Christmas tree with a few decorations.

Glad for new gloves

"Wow, look at these!" said a homeless man holding a brand-new pair of wool gloves.

In the middle of the parking lot, a large blue plastic tarp was covered with jackets, pants, sock, gloves and shoes. They had been donated by members of the church.

The city said its severe- weather shelters — operated under contract with the Salvation Army — will stay open while temperatures are below 32 or there is snow on the ground.

No one turned away

Nobody is expected to be turned away from indoor shelter, said Maj. Myles Plummer, director of the Salvation Army's William Booth Center that houses homeless men.

The agency provided shelter Sunday night for some 300 of the homeless.

If more of the homeless arrive during the freezing weather, said Plummer, "you close the gaps. Where you might have a 6-inch gap between you and the next guy, now everybody gets closer."

At Nickelsville, residents said they liked the freer life, even if it means putting tents on top of wooden pallets so they don't sleep right on top of a cold, paved surface.

University Congregational expects that hosting the camp will cost it $15,000 to $20,000, which includes the $3,000 per month in lost revenue it would normally get paid parking in its lot.

Said David Anderson, the church administrator: "God is calling to provide shelter for those in need."

Information from Seattle Times archives was included in this report.

Erik Lacitis: 206-464-2237 or elacitis@seattletimes.com. Sara Jean Green: 206-515-5654 or sgreen@seattletimes.com