St. Louis, MO – A late-season Arctic blast is sweeping across the central United States, putting nine states under a widespread freeze warning through Tuesday morning, threatening newly blossomed crops and unprotected plumbing.
According to the National Weather Service, areas from north-central Texas through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and into West Virginia are expected to see temperatures drop as low as 23 degrees in some locations. The freeze warning remains in effect for most regions through 9 a.m. CDT or 10 a.m. EDT Tuesday, depending on time zone. Frost and freeze alerts span major metros such as St. Louis, Louisville, Kansas City, Fort Worth, and Charleston.
This cold snap follows a warm early spring, putting sensitive vegetation at high risk. Unprotected outdoor plumbing may also be vulnerable, especially in rural areas and older infrastructure networks.
Officials are urging residents to take action now: cover or bring inside tender plants, insulate outdoor faucets, and allow a slow drip from indoor taps to prevent pipe bursts.
This kind of freeze event in early April is uncommon but not unprecedented, especially in the Midwest. However, the breadth of this system and its impact on agricultural areas make it particularly concerning.
Stay updated at weather.gov for local alerts.
