HASTINGS, Neb. – A Freeze Warning goes into effect across central Nebraska from midnight tonight through 10 a.m. Thursday, with temperatures expected to plunge into the upper 20s, threatening crops, outdoor plumbing, and sensitive vegetation.
According to the National Weather Service in Hastings, sub-freezing temperatures between 29 and 32 degrees are expected across Greeley, Howard, Merrick, Nance, Sherman, Valley, Polk, Buffalo, Dawson, and Gosper counties. The coldest air will settle into low-lying areas early Thursday morning.
Frost and freeze conditions could end the growing season for many local farmers, particularly in Sherman and Merrick counties where fall harvest remains underway. Residents are urged to protect tender plants and outdoor plumbing by wrapping pipes, draining irrigation systems, or allowing faucets to drip slowly overnight.
Drivers may also encounter patchy frost on rural roads early Thursday, with visibility briefly reduced near river valleys.
The warning is set to expire by 10 a.m. Thursday, but colder-than-normal temperatures are expected to persist into the weekend. Additional advisories may be issued if conditions worsen.
