Warming Centers Available in Delaware County by Request

A polar vortex is bringing a deep freeze to eastern Iowa and many other parts of the country.

Wind chills reached 25 to 35 below zero Monday night into Tuesday morning – and Delaware County Emergency Management Coordinator Mandy Bieber says that bitterly cold air will stay with us for the rest of the week. 

She says Emergency Management has several recommendations for residents during this sub-zero cold stretch.

Delaware County residents who need a place to go during this dangerously cold weather can find relief at a warming shelter.

Most area counties operate on a similar basis – both Buchanan County and Clayton County Emergency Management say there hasn’t been a request yet for warming centers, while Jones County Emergency Management says they are working with their cities in case there is a need. Linn County has numerous warming centers available, including at Central City City Hall open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4 pm and the Walker Pavilion and Community Room open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. You can find a link to Linn County’s list of warming shelters HERE.

Our average high for this time of year is around 35 degrees – so we’re sitting about thirty degrees below normal this week. And with winter “delayed” this year following a relatively mild and dry December and January, this recent cold and snowy weather seems to be hitting Iowans a little harder than it normally would otherwise.

The weather is expected to warm up as we head into next weekend, with highs in the 20s on Saturday and 30s on Sunday.