Hundreds of thousands of residents across the Upper Midwest are waking up under urgent weather alerts on Saturday morning as the season’s first wave of frost and freeze conditions sweeps across five states.
The National Weather Service has issued freeze warnings in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Minnesota, with temperatures expected to plunge into the low 30s and upper 20s in some areas.
Why It Matters
A cold front is advancing southeastward across the Great Lakes, Upper Midwest and central Plains, bringing below-average temperatures for this time of year.
Sudden cold snaps can damage crops, strain power grids and pose health risks—particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and unhoused.
What To Know
North Dakota is set for the most severe conditions. In western and central parts of the state, a freeze warning remains in effect until 9 a.m. Central time.
Forecasters warned that temperatures could fall as low as 29 degrees, threatening crops, sensitive plants and even unprotected outdoor plumbing. Cities under the warning include Grand Forks, Williston, Dickinson, Bismarck and Crosby.
Meanwhile, much of central North Dakota, including Minot and Burleigh County, is under a frost advisory, with the mercury dipping into the low 30s.
Grand Forks marked its coldest high temperature for September 4 at 48 degrees. The previous record low maximum temperature for that date was 55 degrees in 1956, NWS Grand Forks reported on X.
Large portions of South Dakota—from Pierre to the Black Hills—are also under frost advisories. The NWS Rapid City office warned of temperatures near or below freezing across western South Dakota and northeast Wyoming, including Gillette and Newcastle.
Northern Minnesota is also under advisories, with the NWS Duluth warning that the entire Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is included. Temperatures are expected to fall to between 32 and 36 degrees, bringing frost to International Falls, Ely, Hibbing and other communities.
The cold snap extends south into Nebraska, where Sheridan, Cherry, Grant and Hooker counties are under a frost advisory until 8 a.m. Central time. Cities such as Valentine, Gordon and Hyannis could see temperatures bottom out near 32 degrees.
What People Are Saying
The National Weather Service Bismarck wrote on X: “A Freeze Warning is in effect for western ND and portions of central ND along and west of Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River late tonight through mid-morning Saturday. A Frost Advisory is in effect for portions of central ND, also through mid-morning Saturday.”
NWS Aberdeen wrote on X: “The Frost Advisory has been expanded to cover central SD as temperatures in that area could drop to 35 degrees by the morning. This could cause early season frost to form in portions of central SD that could harm gardens, potted plants, and outdoor vegetation.”
NWS North Platte wrote on X: “Lows falling into the middle to lower 30s across the western Sandhills is expected to lead to frost formation early Saturday morning. Be sure to protect any sensitive plants tonight!”
What Happens Next
The freeze and frost warnings are set to remain in effect throughout Saturday morning.
The post Hundreds of Thousands Hit With Subfreezing Weather Warnings in Five States appeared first on Newsweek.
