116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Extreme cold warning in effect as Iowa braces for ‘life-threatening cold’
Linn County will have warming shelters open through the weekend to help keep Iowans stay out of the frigid temperatures
Jan. 22, 2026 5:09 pm
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Iowa is plunging into a deep freeze that meteorologists warn will bring “life-threatening cold” temperatures to much of the state.
The National Weather Service issued an Extreme Cold Warning for all of Iowa, except seven counties in the far southwest corner of the state.
Wind chill temperatures are expected to be as low as 35 to 40 degrees below zero north of Interstate 80. South of the interstate, wind chills will be 25 to 35 degrees below zero.
The warning begins at midnight and will last until noon on Friday.
Friday will be sunny and cold, with a high temperature in Cedar Rapids around minus 6 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the NWS’ Quad Cities bureau. Winds are expected to gust at 20 mph.
Following the Extreme Cold Warning, a Cold Weather Advisory will be in effect from noon Friday until noon Saturday. Wind chills during that 24-hour period will be as low as minus 25 degrees.
Saturday’s high temperature in Cedar Rapids is expected to be 3 degrees and Sunday will be 8 degrees.
University of Iowa Health Care is urging Iowans to bundle up if they go outside over the weekend.
People are advised to dress in multiple thin layers to stay warm and dry. As a rule of thumb, children should be dressed in one more layer than adults.
Parents also are instructed to remove their child’s puffy winter coat before buckling them into a car seat.
“A bulky coat can prevent the harness from fitting snugly,” UIHC said in a news release. “Instead, once your child is buckled in place, place their jacket or blanket over them.”
Where to find warmth
With the frigid and dangerous temperatures this weekend, Linn County will have many warming centers open on Friday and through the weekend.
- Alburnett City Hall, 120 N. Main Ave., Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Cedar Rapids Lindale Mall, 4444 First Ave. NE, Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday Noon-6 p.m.
- Cedar Rapids Downtown Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE, Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.
- Cedar Rapids Ladd Library, 3750 Williams Blvd. SW, Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.
- Cedar Rapids Salvation Army, 1000 C Ave. NW, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-Noon, 1-4 p.m.
- Cedar Rapids Willis Dady Works Day Center, 800 First Ave. NW, Monday, Wednesday Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Cedar Rapids Cedar Valley Community Support Services, 2515 18th St. SW, Suite A, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Center Point Community Center, 720 Main St., Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 1-8 p.m.; Tuesday 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Central City City Hall, 137 Fourth St., Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Coggon Public Library, 216 E. Main St., Tuesday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-Noon.
- Ely Community Center/City Hall, 1570 Rowley St., Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Ely Public Library, 1595 Dows St., Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Ely St. John Lutheran Church, 1420 Walker St., Tuesday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Fairfax City Hall, 300 80th St. Ct., Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Fairfax Public Library, 313 Vanderbilt St., Monday-Tuesday Noon-7 p.m.; Wednesday-Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday Noon-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Hiawatha City Hall, 101 Emmons St., Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Hiawatha Library, 150 West Willman St., Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Lisbon City Hall, 115 N. Washington, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Marion City Hall Lobby, 1225 Sixth Ave., Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Marion Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center, 4500 N. 10th St., Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Marion Thomas Park Safe Room, 343 Marion Blvd., Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Marion Police Department Lobby, 6315 Highway 151, Available 24 hours
- Marion Public Library Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.
- Mount Vernon City Hall Basement, 213 First St. NW., Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Mount Vernon/Lisbon Police Station, 380 Old Lincoln Highway, Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Palo Community Center, 2800 Hollenbeck Road, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Robins Community Room, 265 S Second St., Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 8 a.m.-Noon
- Springville Community Room & Library, 264 Broadway, Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Springville United Methodist Church, 169 Broadway, Monday 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday 8-11 a.m.; Thursday 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sunday 8-11 a.m.
- Walker Community Room, 204 Green St., Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Walker North Pavilion, 398 Park St., Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Walford Community Room, 120 Fifth St. N., Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Overnight shelters
Information about overnight shelters can be found at https://www.linncountyiowa.gov/1702/Winter-Weather-Homeless-Shelter
Olivia Cohen covers energy and environment for The Gazette and is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. She is also a contributing writer for the Ag and Water Desk, an independent journalism collaborative focusing on the Mississippi River Basin.
Sign up for our curated, weekly environment & outdoors newsletter.
Comments: olivia.cohen@thegazette.com
Daily Newsletters