DODGE CITY, Kan. – An urgent Freeze Warning is in effect from 10 p.m. this evening until 10 a.m. CDT Thursday across southwest and south-central Kansas, where temperatures are expected to fall to 27–29 degrees overnight. The National Weather Service in Dodge City warns that the widespread freeze will likely end the growing season for much of the region while posing risks to outdoor plumbing and sensitive plants.
According to the National Weather Service, clear skies and light winds behind a cold front will allow for rapid cooling after sunset. The coldest air will settle in low-lying and rural areas across Ford, Clark, Meade, Edwards, Seward, Pawnee, Stafford, Pratt, Comanche, and Barber Counties, including the cities of Dodge City, Liberal, Pratt, Medicine Lodge, and Ashland.
Residents are urged to bring in or cover plants, wrap exposed pipes, and allow faucets to drip slowly overnight to avoid freeze damage. Pet owners should ensure animals have warm, dry shelter through early morning hours. Local gardeners and agricultural producers are advised that remaining crops and late harvests may be lost to this cold snap.
According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, early commuters should expect frosty windshields and slick bridges on U.S. 54, U.S. 50, and Highway 400 corridors. Motorists should allow extra time for de-icing and be cautious on shaded or elevated roadways.
Temperatures will rise into the upper 40s Thursday afternoon under sunny skies, but another surge of cold air this weekend could bring additional frost and freeze risks to the region.
