SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. – Sub-freezing temperatures across the Nebraska Panhandle early Sunday morning are bringing an abrupt end to the fall growing season, with lows plunging near 18 degrees before sunrise. The National Weather Service in Cheyenne said a Freeze Warning remains in effect until 7 a.m. MDT for Scotts Bluff, Morrill, and Cheyenne counties.
According to the Weather Service, the coldest air settled overnight along the North Platte River Valley and across open farmland, where clear skies and calm winds allowed rapid cooling. Residents from Scottsbluff to Sidney reported widespread frost and icy windshields before dawn. The agency cautioned that unprotected crops, outdoor plants, and garden irrigation lines could suffer damage.
Local emergency management officials urged residents to drain hoses, cover outdoor spigots, and bring pets indoors through sunrise. Motorists on I-80 and U.S. 385 may also encounter slick patches where frost formed on bridges and overpasses. While skies will clear Sunday, temperatures are expected to remain cool through the afternoon, with highs only in the upper 40s to near 50 degrees.
According to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, this weekend’s cold snap effectively ends the region’s 2025 growing season. Another round of near-freezing lows is expected early next week before gradual warming midweek.
