LINCOLN, Neb. – An urgent Freeze Warning is in effect from midnight tonight until 10 a.m. CDT Thursday as subfreezing temperatures threaten crops, gardens, and outdoor plumbing across southeast Nebraska. The National Weather Service in Omaha/Valley warns that lows could bottom out near 28 degrees in Lancaster, Gage, Seward, Jefferson, and Saline Counties, including Lincoln, Beatrice, Crete, and Fairbury.
According to the National Weather Service, the warning replaces an earlier watch as cold, dry air surges in behind a late October front. Forecasters expect rapid cooling after sunset Wednesday, with calm winds and clear skies setting up ideal conditions for a hard freeze by daybreak.
Residents are urged to protect sensitive plants and flowers, disconnect garden hoses, and wrap or drain exposed pipes to prevent costly freeze damage. Pet owners should ensure animals have warm, dry shelter overnight. The chill will mark the first widespread freeze of the fall season, effectively ending the growing season for much of southeast Nebraska.
According to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, motorists may encounter light frost or icy spots early Thursday on rural routes, including Highways 6, 77, and I-80 near Lincoln, where bridge surfaces cool fastest. School and outdoor activity organizers should prepare for a sharp temperature drop and chilly morning conditions.
Temperatures will rebound modestly Thursday afternoon but remain below normal through the weekend as another front approaches early next week, bringing a renewed shot of cold air and patchy frost potential.
