Deadly Windchills Have Dubuque Opening Warming Shelters

It's dangerously cold out there and unfortunately it may be for a while. Dubuque residents are being warned by the city to bundle up and stay safe as an Arctic blast brings dangerously low temperatures and wind chills across the region. To help people escape the bitter cold, the City of Dubuque has opened daytime warming centers for today, Monday, January 19th, and Tuesday, January 20th.

Monday, January 19th, 2026

• Dubuque Rescue Mission – 398 Main St. | 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Kennedy Mall (common areas) – 555 John F. Kennedy Rd. | 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Petco (Pet friendly) – 2541 NW Arterial | 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• PetSmart (Pet friendly) – 1300 John F. Kennedy Rd. | 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Tuesday, January 20th, 2026

• Dubuque Rescue Mission – 398 Main St. | 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Note: The Dubuque Rescue Mission offers overnight accommodations for men only.
• Dubuque Intermodal Transportation Center – 950 Elm St. | 6:45 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.
• ImOn Ice Arena – 1800 Admiral Sheehey Dr. | 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Bunker Hill Golf Course Clubhouse – 2200 Bunker Hill Rd. | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Carnegie‑Stout Public Library – 360 W. 11th St. | 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Kennedy Mall (common areas) – 555 John F. Kennedy Rd. | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Multicultural Family Center – 1157 Central Ave. | 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Salvation Army – 1099 Iowa St. | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Petco (Pet friendly) – 2541 NW Arterial | 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• PetSmart (Pet friendly) – 1300 John F. Kennedy Rd. | 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Temperatures are expected to stay well below freezing, with wind chills making it feel 20 to 30 degrees below zero at times. This Arctic air mass will hang around through much of the week. While there may be a slight warm-up in the latter part of the week, highs will struggle to climb out of the teens, and nights will remain dangerously cold.

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Officials urge residents to dress in layers, with moisture-wicking inner layers, insulating middle layers, and wind and water-resistant outer layers. Additional precautions include staying dry, avoiding prolonged exposure to the cold, checking on neighbors, and never leaving people or pets unattended in a vehicle.

Read More: 5 Vehicle Do’s and Don’ts for Surviving Iowa Winters

For those who must travel, having a winter survival kit and monitoring conditions is critical. Meanwhile, the warming centers provide a safe refuge from extreme weather, reminding everyone that when wind chills reach these levels, it’s not just uncomfortable: it’s seriously life-threatening.