City opens warming shelters as subzero wind chills head toward Chicago
Jan 17, 2025
Warming centers across the city will be open Saturday and into next week as bitterly cold temperatures are expected in Chicago.Despite the unseasonably warm weather Friday, temperatures will plunge into the single digits Saturday night and remain there until Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Wind chill temperatures will reach as low as minus 14 degrees Sunday night. According to National Weather Service meteorologist Gino Izzi, the air temperature has not dipped below zero in one year, since Jan. 16, 2024. Overnight Sunday the regular air temperature is expected to plummet, giving us our first subzero temperatures, which will hover between zero and 5 below zero.Izzi said Monday and Tuesday will be two "really cold" days, and temperatures will fall back again to zero to 5 below zero on both overnights. During this period, wind chills will be "pretty ugly," ranging from 10 to 20 degree below zero, Izzi said. The cold spell is expected to end on Wednesday with temperatures hitting almost 20 degrees, Izzi said. The Garfield Community Service Center will be open for residents seeking to warm up between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday.
Warming center locations in Chicago
Warming center locations in Chicago:The centers will be open from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. when temperatures are below 32 degrees. Other facilities, such as libraries, also serve as warming centers and sometimes have different or longer hours.Garfield Community Service Center10 S. Kedzie Ave.(312) 746-5400Englewood Community Service Center1140 W. 79th St(312) 747-0200Martin Luther King Community Service Center4314 S. Cottage Grove(312) 747-2300North Area Community Service Center845 W. Wilson Ave.(312) 744-2580South Chicago Community Service Center8650 S. Commercial Ave.(312) 747-0500Trina Davila Community Service Center4312 W. North Ave.(312) 744-2014
Other city buildings, such as libraries, park district facilities and police districts will also serve as warming centers, though hours there vary by location and date.
(1/3) Here are the latest details on the expected bitterly cold weather early next week. Sub-zero temps will also lead to rapid ice build-up on area rivers which could result in ice jams and localized flooding.Visit https://t.co/orNF3Qec9R for safety resources. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/RwhCs8xmG9— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 17, 2025
The Salvation Army's Freedom Center in Humboldt Park, 825 N. Christiana Ave., will be open 24 hours as a warming shelter throughout the week. The organization also runs the 24-hour "Shuttle of Hope," which works with the city's 311 call center to transport people to shelters.Contributing: Mohammad Samra