PUEBLO, Colo. – A hard freeze is expected across southern and eastern Colorado tonight, marking the first subfreezing event of the fall season for the plains. The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories from 10 p.m. tonight through 9 a.m. Sunday, with temperatures expected to drop into the mid-20s to low-30s by sunrise.
According to the NWS Pueblo office, temperatures below 32°F will end the growing season for most lower-elevation areas, including Pueblo, La Junta, Lamar, and Springfield. Lows could dip into the upper 20s across the Arkansas River Valley, while mountain valleys fall into the lower 20s.
Residents are urged to protect sensitive vegetation, bring pets indoors, and drain outdoor hoses and irrigation systems before the freeze arrives. Outdoor plumbing and sprinkler lines are particularly vulnerable to early-season cold snaps, and homeowners should shut off and insulate exposed pipes.
Motorists traveling on Highways 50 and 287 late tonight may encounter patchy frost and reduced visibility early Sunday morning. The weather service advises allowing extra time for travel and avoiding sudden braking on slick bridges before sunrise.
Warmer and drier air will return by midweek, but this weekend’s freeze will officially mark the end of the growing season across the southeast plains.
