Warming stations in the Birmingham area are once again open for the weekend as bitterly cold temperatures, with wind chills below 0, sweep across the state in an arctic front.

The area is under an extreme cold warning from midnight to noon Sunday and a wind advisory from 2 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, with sustained winds of 15 mph to 25 mph and gusts of up to 40 mph expected.

Snow flurries are possible overnight, mostly between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m., according to the National Weather Service-Birmingham. Temperatures are expected to dip to 18 overnight and climb only to 27 on Saturday before dropping again to about 14. Temperatures are expected to climb above freezing on Sunday, to a predicted 37, before rising to a more seasonable 49 on Monday.

Several warming stations will be opening to help people get through the frigid temperatures. The city of Birmingham and Jimmie Hale Mission warming station opened at 6 p.m. and will open Saturday at 5 p.m. for men, women and children. The warming station is at 3420 Second Ave. N.

Shelter for women and children also is available at Pathways, which is at 409 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. Food will be provided at both shelters, which are open to the homeless but also to those whose homes do not have heat sufficient for the unusually cold weather.

Both Faith Chapel Care Center, at 921 2nd Ave. N., and Church of the Reconciler, at 112 14th St. N., are extending their day shelter hours and will be open Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free shuttle service to Jimmie Hale from the day shelters will be provided on Saturday.

In Bessemer, the Latch and Live Foundation shelter at Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ, 1431 13th Avenue N., is open indefinitely for individuals and families. Food will be provided, and donors and volunteers are being sought. For more information, call (205) 266-8817.

Farther out in the county, other warming shelters also are opening. For instance, Warrior has opened its South Storm Shelter, at 600 U.S. 31, as a 24-7 warming station. Check with your local law enforcement or fire agencies to determine whether something might be available closer to you.

Community Support Needed

With the extended cold period the area has seen, shelters say need community support even more than usual. Pathways and Jimmie Hale Mission, the two officially designated warming stations in Birmingham, are actively seeking support.

“When temperatures drop below freezing, homelessness becomes a life-or-death situation,” Jennifer Sumner, executive director of Pathways, said in a statement Friday. “As one of only two warming stations in Birmingham, we’re doing everything we can to keep women and children safe, but we can’t do it alone.”

Pathways serves women and children experiencing homelessness with shelter, housing, day services and education. Jimmie Hale Mission runs several programs that serve men, women and children experiencing homelessness.

Both are seeking meal donations to help get through this unusual cold period. To donate meals and see lists of other things the shelters need visit: Jimmie Hale Mission and Pathways.