Freeze Warning - Wikipedia

Type of warning issued by the US National Weather Service

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A freeze warning issued in United States is a warning issued by the National Weather Service when the temperature is going to be projected as below 32 °F (0 °C) for a long period of time.[1] This is used if the temperature is low enough to cause the most impact at that time of year.[2]

The warning is used in the fall to mark the end of the growing season with the first episode of a widespread freeze.[3] This is due to the temperature threshold that kills certain types of commercial crops and residential plants.[4] However, if the temperature drops below 28 °F (−2 °C) for a length of time it can kill most types of commercial crops and residential plants.[5] The end of growing season occurs in mid to late October west of the Blue Ridge mountains and early November east of the mountains, but if the climate is warm the growing season may extend longer.[6] Historically, these dates started earlier in September.[7]

At the end of spring, another freeze warning is issued at the start of growing season if it is predicted to cause damage to new plants and crops.[8]

The Benefit of Freeze Warnings

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Having a freeze warning is not just used to protect plants from freezing. Many people stand to benefit by abiding and following the precautions placed in a freeze warning. Homeowners, renters, or people who work with water outside stand to benefit from paying attention to freeze warnings because pipes, garden houses, and other equipment that uses water can be damaged in temperatures below freezing.[2] The water freezes and then expands, causing damage to your equipment. One way to tend to this is by storing the equipment in a dry place during the winter season or using insulated pipes and winterizing covers.[2]

A study shows that those who use predictive intervals, or warnings, took more precautionary action than those using deterministic forecasts.[9] Some believe that weather warnings are pointless due to the capacity for the warning to be wrong, making them skeptical to using them. However, both groups, those using predictive intervals and deterministic forecasts, were able to understand the predictive interval verification graphics and use them to correctly identify the best performing forecast periods and achieving better results.[10] By utilizing verification graphics, the National Weather Service is able to increase trust of the public.[11]

Example

[edit] 110 WWUS74 KMOB 081005 NPWMOB URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Mobile AL 405 AM CST Thu Mar 8 2018 ...FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING... .Temperatures are expected to drop to near or just below freezing across portions of interior southeast Mississippi and interior southwest Alabama late tonight into early Friday morning. Areas of frost will also be possible across the area during the same time period. ALZ051>058-MSZ067-081900- /O.UPG.KMOB.FZ.A.0001.180309T0600Z-180309T1400Z/ /O.NEW.KMOB.FZ.W.0001.180309T0600Z-180309T1400Z/ Choctaw-Washington-Clarke-Wilcox-Monroe-Conecuh-Butler-Crenshaw- Wayne- Including the cities of Butler, Lisman, Silas, Chatom, Millry, Grove Hill, Jackson, Thomasville, Camden, Pine Hill, Homewood, Monroeville, Evergreen, Greenville, Brantley, Luverne, and Waynesboro 405 AM CST Thu Mar 8 2018 ...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM CST FRIDAY... The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a Freeze Warning, which is in effect from midnight tonight to 8 AM CST Friday. The Freeze Watch is no longer in effect. * TEMPERATURE...A range of 30 to 32 degrees is expected. * IMPACTS...Temperatures at or below freezing, along with areas of frost, could kill sensitive plants and vegetation. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Freeze Warning means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or highly likely. These conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. && $$ [12]

See also

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• Freeze Watch
• Severe weather terminology (United States)

References

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1. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Understanding Cold Weather Alerts". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
2. ^ a b c Stutzke, Andrew (November 2, 2023). "Freeze warning: What does it mean?". WQAD8 ABC. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
3. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Watch/Warning/Advisory Definitions". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
4. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Understanding Cold Weather Alerts". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
5. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Understanding Cold Weather Alerts". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
6. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Watch/Warning/Advisory Definitions". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
7. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Earliest/Mean/Latest First Fall Freeze Climatology". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
8. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Watch/Warning/Advisory Definitions". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
9. ^ Joslyn, Susan; Nemec, Lou; Savelli, Sonia (2013). "The Benefits and Challenges of Predictive Interval Forecasts and Verification Graphics for End Users". Weather, Climate, and Society. 5 (2): 133–147. doi:10.2307/24907512. ISSN 1948-8327.
10. ^ Joslyn, Susan; Nemec, Lou; Savelli, Sonia (2013). "The Benefits and Challenges of Predictive Interval Forecasts and Verification Graphics for End Users". Weather, Climate, and Society. 5 (2): 133–147. doi:10.2307/24907512. ISSN 1948-8327.
11. ^ Joslyn, Susan; Nemec, Lou; Savelli, Sonia (2013). "The Benefits and Challenges of Predictive Interval Forecasts and Verification Graphics for End Users". Weather, Climate, and Society. 5 (2): 133–147. doi:10.2307/24907512. ISSN 1948-8327.
12. ^ Daryl Herzmann. "IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App". Mesonet.agron.iastate.edu.

External links

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• National Weather Service
• Federal Emergency Management Agency

v t e Severe weather terminology in the United States
Severestorms	Thunderstorm Advisory Watch PDS watch Warning Tornado Watch PDS watch Warning PDS warning Emergency Marine thunderstorm Special marine warning
Winterweather	Advisories Winter weather advisory Winter storm Watch Warning Blizzard/blowing snow Blowing snow advisory Blizzard watch Blizzard warning Heavy snow Warning Lake-effect snow Advisory Watch Warning Snow squall Warning Ice Freezing rain advisory Ice storm warning Avalanche Warning Watch Advisory
Tropicalcyclones	Tropical storms Watch Warning Hurricanes Watch Warning Typhoons Watch Warning Cyclones Watch Warning Storm surge Watch Warning Hurricane local statement Tropical storm local statement Tropical depression local statement
Flood	Flood Watch Warning Advisory Flash flood Watch PDS watch Warning Emergency Coastal flood Advisory Watch Warning Statement Lakeshore flood Warning Advisory Watch Statement River flood Advisory Watch Warning Urban and small stream flood Advisory
Apparenttemperature	Heat index Heat advisory Extreme heat watch Extreme heat warning Extreme cold Cold Weather Advisory Extreme Cold Watch Extreme Cold Warning PDS warning Freeze Watch Warning Hard freeze warning Frost advisory Hard freeze watch
Maritimeandcoastalweather	Marine winds Small craft advisory Brisk wind advisory Lake wind advisory Gale Watch Warning Storm Watch Warning Hurricane-force wind Warning Watch Hazardous seas Watch Warning Freezing spray Freezing spray advisory Heavy freezing spray watch Heavy freezing spray warning Marine weather statement Rip current statement Beach hazards statement
High surf	High surf advisory High surf warning High surf watch
Wind	Advisory-force winds Wind advisory Gale-force winds High wind watch High wind warning Major hurricane-force winds Extreme wind warning
Airborneparticulates	Dust/sand Blowing dust advisory Blowing dust warning Dust advisory Dust storm warning Fog/Smoke Dense fog advisory Dense smoke advisory Ash Ashfall advisory Ashfall warning Air pollution Air stagnation advisory Air quality alert
Fire	Red flag warning Fire warning Evacuation immediate Fire weather watch
Aviation	SIGMET Volcanic ash advisory
Weather scalesused by NWS	Beaufort (wind) Enhanced Fujita (tornadoes) Saffir–Simpson scale (tropical cyclones)
Other	Special weather statement Severe weather statement Hazardous weather outlook
Tsunami	Watch Warning Advisory