Americans told to ‘take steps now’ as urgent frost alerts hit eight US states tonight
A biting overnight chill is about to bring an unwelcome wake-up call for thousands of Americans.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued frost advisories across parts of eight states, urging residents ‘to take steps now’ as some regions will see temperatures drop to freezing from Friday into Saturday.
The alerts cover portions of Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Ohio and West Virginia, with different forecasts and timings across the affected regions.
Most alerts take effect around midnight and remain in place until 8am or 9am Saturday, November 7, depending on the location and time zone.
Temperatures are expected to fall into the 30s, with some areas reaching 32F as frost develops overnight. Prolonged exposure could put people at risk of hypothermia, a dangerous drop in body temperature, particularly if they are wet or lack warm clothing and shelter.
Forecasters also warned that sensitive outdoor plants could be harmed or killed if left uncovered.
A separate freeze watch runs from Saturday evening through Sunday morning, with temperatures potentially dropping to 31F.
That colder spell could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation, possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing and bring the growing season to an end in affected areas.
Prolonged exposure could put people at risk of hypothermia, a dangerous drop in body temperature, particularly if they are wet or lack warm clothing and shelter
Kentucky features prominently in the advisories, with affected areas stretching from western communities through central parts of the state and into the east.
Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Frankfort and surrounding communities are included in advisories forecasting temperatures as low as 34F, while several counties along the southern border could fall to 35F.
Farther east, communities around Somerset, London and Morehead are among those expecting temperatures between 32F and 37F by dawn Saturday.
The Jackson weather service office said clearing skies and easing winds would allow temperatures to fall overnight, leading to frost development across the covered counties.
Western Kentucky faces an additional concern beyond Friday night’s frost, with a freeze watch covering communities including Paducah, Murray, Hopkinsville and Owensboro into Sunday morning.
That watch also extends into southern Illinois, southwest Indiana and southeast Missouri, where readings as low as 31F are possible during the second overnight cold spell.
Forecasters in Paducah said potential freezing conditions would end the growing season across the watch area, which includes Evansville and communities near the lower Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
Elsewhere in Indiana, frost advisories cover parts of the south central and southeastern regions, including communities near Louisville and along the Ohio River.
Forecasters also warned that sensitive outdoor plants could be harmed or killed if left uncovered
In Ohio, the affected area includes Cincinnati and portions of the southwest and south central regions, where temperatures as low as 35F are forecast overnight. The advisory runs from midnight until 9am on Saturday.
Farther east along the Ohio River, separate advisories cover communities around Ironton, Ohio, Ashland, Kentucky, and Huntington, West Virginia.
The Charleston weather service office said patchy frost could develop in sheltered valleys and low-lying areas as colder air arrives behind a cold front.
Across Missouri and Kansas, advisories encompass the Kansas City metropolitan area and surrounding communities, with temperatures potentially reaching 32F before the alerts expire Saturday morning.
Additional advisories cover southwestern and central Missouri and southeastern Kansas, including Springfield, Joplin, Branson, Pittsburg and Fort Scott, with temperatures forecast to settle into the lower 30s.
The Oklahoma advisory is more localized, covering Garfield, Grant, Kay and Noble counties in the state’s northern section.
Communities including Enid, Ponca City, Blackwell and Perry are affected Saturday.
Across the eight states, the alerts apply to specified counties and regions, with the lowest temperatures and the timing of frost varying between locations.
Residents in the covered areas are being urged to protect tender vegetation ahead of the overnight cold, while those within the freeze watch area face another potential threat later in the weekend.
