No immediate relief in store after chilly weekend

The week ahead doesn't look promising for much warmer days in this new year swept in with blistering weather.

Temperatures the beginning of the week are expected to remain slightly above zero, with highs of 5 degrees on Monday and 10 degrees Tuesday. On Saturday, temperatures are predicted to reach near 20 degrees.

Despite the arctic blast (see weather chart), no cases of cold related injuries or illnesses had been reported as of Sunday at Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids or Mercy Iowa City and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Motor vehicles were another matter. Towing companies in the Corridor reported being busy throughout the weekend.

Ron Hochstetler, owner of Hochstetler Towing in Cedar Rapids, said Saturday was the busiest day of the winter so far for jump-starting cars. “We're staying busy,” he said. “But we're not being swamped.”

Justin Houseal, parts sales manager at Auto Zone in Iowa City, said the frigid temperatures simply are wearing on batteries. “Even the littlest cold can mess with a battery,” he said.

Kyle Stanek, position parts specialist at O'Reilly's Auto Parts in Cedar Rapids, said at one point Sunday he sold five new batteries in about 10 minutes. Stanek said even newer models are experiencing difficulty in these extreme temperatures.

Britt More, who runs Black and Gold Cab in Iowa City said the cold hasn't caused any issues yet with his cabs, which are newer models.

Kenney Petersen, a driver for Century Cabs in Cedar Rapids, said business has increased, but the weather also has taken a toll on gas mileage expenses because Century tries to keep

its cabs running at all times.

“It's a plus and a minus,” Petersen said. “We make extra money, but it sucks for those who can't get their cars to work.”