Cold Snap in D.C. Leads to Suspected Hypothermia Deaths
Cold Snap in D.C. Leads to Suspected Hypothermia Deaths
US · Published Feb 4, 2026
A cold snap in Washington, D.C. has resulted in suspected hypothermia deaths due to prolonged below-freezing temperatures.
Vulnerable populations, including the unhoused and elderly, are at high risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
Local authorities and outreach programs are providing shelter and assistance, urging residents to take precautions against the extreme cold.
Hypothermia deaths rise amid prolonged freezing temperatures
A severe cold snap in Washington, D.C., has led to multiple suspected hypothermia deaths, with temperatures remaining below freezing for nine consecutive days—the longest such stretch in over 35 years. Following a winter storm that brought significant snow and ice, the extreme cold poses a significant risk, especially to vulnerable populations such as the unhoused and the elderly. At least three deaths in D.C. are suspected to be due to hypothermia, and investigations are ongoing in Virginia and Maryland regarding additional fatalities. The D.C. Chief Medical Examiner is awaiting confirmation on the causes of death.
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