Blizzard Conditions Tonight, Extreme Wind Chills Stay for Dubuque and the Tri-States

I feel like it's all I write or talk about lately. Yes, it’s another brutal stretch of winter weather for eastern Iowa, and unfortunately, the cold is about to get even more dangerous. Dubuque residents are being urged to prepare for snow, slick roads, and dangerously cold wind chills as Arctic air settles in for several days.

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According to KWWL, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect tonight through 6 a.m. Wednesday. Snow will taper off late tonight, between 2 AM and 4 AM, with fluffy snowfall expected. Areas north of Cedar Rapids could see 2 to 4 inches, while locations south may pick up less than 2 inches. Overnight lows will drop into the 10 to 16 degree range, with wind chills hovering near zero.

Road conditions are expected to remain slick on Wednesday, with another round of light snow possible during the afternoon. Around one inch of additional snow is possible across eastern Iowa. Gusty west winds up to 35 mph could lead to blowing snow in open areas, keeping wind chills in the teens. Conditions worsen late Wednesday night as temperatures fall to 2 to 11 degrees, with wind chills dipping to 10 below zero.

A Cold Weather Advisory goes into effect Thursday night through noon Saturday, with dangerously cold conditions expected. Morning wind chills could reach as low as 45 below zero, with highs on Friday and Saturday struggling to rise above zero. While temperatures slowly improve on Sunday morning, lows will still be below zero.

To help residents escape the dangerous cold, the City of Dubuque will activate daytime warming centers from Friday, January 23 through Sunday, January 25, 2026.

Friday, January 23

• Dubuque Rescue Mission | 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Overnight accommodations for men only)
• Dubuque Intermodal Transportation Center | 6:45 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.
• ImOn Ice Arena | 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Carnegie-Stout Public Library | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Kennedy Mall (common areas) | 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Multicultural Family Center | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Salvation Army | 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Petco & PetSmart (Pet-friendly) | 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Saturday, January 24

• Dubuque Rescue Mission | 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Dubuque Intermodal Transportation Center | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• ImOn Ice Arena | 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Carnegie-Stout Public Library | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Kennedy Mall | 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Multicultural Family Center | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Petco & PetSmart (Pet-friendly) | 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Sunday, January 25

• Dubuque Rescue Mission | 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• ImOn Ice Arena | 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Carnegie-Stout Public Library | 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Kennedy Mall | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Salvation Army | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Petco & PetSmart (Pet-friendly) | 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

For evening or overnight help, contact Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa’s Coordinated Entry Line at 833-587-8322. City officials again urge residents to dress in layers, stay dry, limit time outdoors, and check on neighbors, especially the elderly and those living alone. These windchills are more than just dangerous; they could be deadly.