A freeze warning has been issued to multiple states including Texas, Colorado and Arizona as temperatures may dip into the 20s and even as low as 12 degrees.
Newsweek reached out to the National Weather Service (NWS) via email on Tuesday.
Why It Matters
Freeze warnings and frost advisories have been issued for millions of Americans in recent weeks as powerful cold fronts have driven temperatures into the 20s and 30s across the West, Midwest and into the mid-Atlantic.
The NWS announced that these conditions could damage crops and harm sensitive outdoor infrastructure. Utility providers, farmers and homeowners are being urged to take precautions as the plunging temperatures put both agriculture and residential systems at increased risk.
What To Know
According to the NWS, the freeze warning applies to portions of the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas, Baca and eastern Fremont Counties including Canon City in Colorado, and Curry and Roosevelt Counties in New Mexico. The regions in Colorado could see temperatures as low as 12 degrees.
Additional counties in New Mexico under the warning include Middle Rio Grande Valley including the Albuquerque and Santa Fe Metro Areas, South Central Highlands, Upper Tularosa Valley, and the counties of Guadalupe, Quay, De Baca, (the plains of) Chaves, Eastern Lincoln and Southwest Chaves, the NWS says.
The South Plains and far southwestern and south-central Texas Panhandle also fall under the warning.
Edwards, Kiowa, Pawnee, Clark, Ford, Meade and Seward Counties face the warning in Kansas. Additionally, portions of northwest and west-central Kansas and southwest Nebraska are affected, as temperatures may dip to as low as 23 degrees, per the NWS.
In Arizona, Little Colorado River Valley, Painted Desert and Chinle Valley may also be subject to the subfreezing temperatures.
Animas River Basin, Four Corners/Upper Dolores River and Grand Valley in Colorado could see temperatures drop to as low as 22 degrees, the NWS says. In northern Colorado, Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver and the Mile High City’s western suburbs face possible temperatures from 19 to 25 degrees.
The warning goes into effect from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 2 a.m. overnight and largely ends by 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to the NWS.
What People Are Saying
NWS Albuquerque, on X Tuesday: “A Freeze Warning is in effect tonight, with several areas seeing their first freeze of the season. Most of the area is likely to see temperatures at or below freezing. Make sure to protect plants, pipes, pets and people! #nmwx”
NWS Amarillo, also on X Tuesday: “Below freezing temperatures are forecast across most of the Panhandles tonight. These cold temperatures will harm crops and plants that are unprotected outside. The coldest temperatures are expected to be across the western Panhandles. #phwx #TXwx #OKwx”
What Happens Next
Residents in the affected states are encouraged to insulate exposed pipes, bring sensitive plants indoors or cover them, and protect pets and livestock from the fall freeze.
