STEVENS POINT − People seeking warmth during the next few days of dangerously cold weather will have some additional resources available.
The Stevens Point Warming Center at 1300 Main St. will remain open until 9 a.m. Thursday. It usually closes at 6:30 a.m. each day. The Stevens Point Transit will also allow people to ride for free all day Thursday for shelter from the expected extreme cold, according to a release from Stevens Point Police Lt. Joe Johnson.
Temperatures overnight Wednesday could reach to -5 degrees with windchill values possibly reaching -30 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The cold temperatures will linger through Thursday with single-digit highs and into Friday when it is expected to be warmer. Temperatures above freezing are expected this weekend.
The National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook Tuesday covering most of the northern half of Wisconsin, warning of cold temperatures and freezing and thawing precipitation through the weekend.
Central Wisconsin weather: Arctic front will bring below-zero temps, windchills of -20 and snow to central Wisconsin
Portage County has at least 10 warming shelters available to local residents during cold events, according to a release from Sheriff Mike Lukas. These include Portage County library branches and other community resource centers.
Tips for staying safe during cold weather events include staying inside as much as possible, stocking home and vehicle emergency kits, not using gas-burning generators or grills indoors, knowing signs and symptoms of hypothermia and overexertion and checking on friends, family and neighbors, according to Lukas.
Portage County residents needing overnight shelter may contact the Sheriff’s Office Communications Center at 715-346-1400 or United Way’s 211.
Portage County warming center locations
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Stevens Point Recreation Center, 2442 Sims Ave., Stevens Point. Open: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Not available between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday.
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Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1300 Main St., Stevens Point. Open: 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. daily. It will remain open until 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12 due to extreme weather conditions.
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Salvation Army, 1600 Briggs St., Stevens Point. Open: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The warming location at Salvation Army can only accommodate three or four people.
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Public Library, Stevens Point Branch, 1001 Main St. , Stevens Point. Open: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
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Village of Almond Municipal Center, 122 Main St., Almond. Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and upon request for other days.
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Public Library, Rosholt Branch, 137 N. Main St., Rosholt. Open: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday.
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Public Library, Plover Branch, 2151 Roosevelt Drive, Plover. Open: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
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Public Library, Almond Branch, 122 Main St., Almond. Open: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
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Portage County Aging and Disability Resource Center, 1519 Water St., Stevens Point. Open: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Jensen Community Center, 487 N. Main St., Amherst. Open: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK – Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Where to shelter from extreme cold in Stevens Point, Portage County