Fort Wayne, Ind. – Cold air rushed in under mostly clear skies early Thursday, setting up northern Indiana and northwest Ohio for their first widespread frost of the season by dawn Friday. The chill marks a sharp transition from earlier mild October afternoons, as the region slips toward its first taste of winter-like mornings.
According to the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana, a Frost Advisory remains in effect from midnight to 11 a.m. EDT Friday for Allen, DeKalb, Kosciusko, Noble, and adjacent Ohio counties. Temperatures may dip as low as 33°F, cold enough to form frost on exposed surfaces. Sensitive plants should be covered or brought indoors tonight. Gardeners and farmers along U.S. 30 and I-69 should prepare for a brief but potentially season-ending freeze.
By Friday afternoon, sunshine returns with highs near the mid-50s, but the crisp, still air will linger into Saturday morning. Areas north and east of Fort Wayne—especially toward Defiance and Paulding, Ohio—could see patchy frost again before sunrise Saturday.
The chill won’t last all weekend: southwest flow brings a milder trend by Sunday, with highs returning near 60°F. Still, this pattern signals the seasonal pivot. Across the Midwest, forecasters are eyeing early signs of winter energy in long-range models, including the first hints of flurries near Wisconsin’s Upper Peninsula late next week. For now, fall cleanup and Halloween decorations come with a side of brisk air and bright skies.
Five-Day Forecast for Fort Wayne, IN:
Thu: 53/35 – Clearing late; cool breeze from northwest.
Fri: 56/33 – Patchy frost early; sunny and calm afternoon.
Sat: 57/38 – Early frost possible; bright and cool.
Sun: 58/41 – Mostly sunny; milder feel returns.
Mon: 60/42 – Partly sunny; hint of warmth ahead of next front.
