Winter weather alerts as 7 states face subfreezing temperatures

A slew of alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) were in place across the U.S. early Saturday, with the agency warning of frost and freeze conditions for many as well as up to six inches of snow for Alaska.

Why It Matters

“Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” the NWS cautioned in alerts that spanned multiple states early Saturday.

What To Know

In Alaska, a winter weather advisory is in place for the Dalton Highway Summits, where the NWS said snow accumulations between three to six inches were possible. Winds could also gust as high as 30 miles per hour, according to the agency, which added that the heaviest snow and strongest winds would occur along higher elevations.

Elsewhere, freeze warnings and watches spanned parts of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Georgia and North Carolina.

Portions of south central, southwest and west central Illinois could see subfreezing temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit, according to an alert for the area in force from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. CST Sunday as of reporting. “Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold,” the NWS said.

Parts of northeast Kansas, as well as north central, northeast, northwest and west central Missouri could see temperatures fall as low as 25 from 1 a.m. CDT to 8 a.m. CST Sunday, the NWS said.

A freeze warning for Rabun County in Georgia and Buncombe, Burke, McDowell, Henderson, Macon, Jackson and Transylvania Counties in North Carolina, the NWS said subfreezing temperatures as low as 28 were expected. This warning was in place from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. EDT Saturday at the time of writing.

Additionally, freeze watches spanned central and eastern Oklahoma, as well as parts of Arkansas as of Saturday morning. The NWS expects overnight lows to plunge to about 27 degrees in north central Arkansas and near 28 across much of eastern Oklahoma Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Separately, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said in an update early Saturday morning that an “intense cyclone” was expected to move northeast away from New England.

“In its wake will be modest lake effect precipitation on Saturday, and the cold advection will keep temperatures below average this weekend into Monday east of the Mississippi River due to the persistence of upper level troughing,” the agency said.

It added: “To the south, a weak cyclone/cold front looks to bring chances for rain across the Midwest and Texas Gulf Coast today (with some storms near the Texas coast strong to perhaps severe), portions of the Tennessee/Ohio Valleys late Saturday into Sunday, and to portions of the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic coast late Sunday into Monday.”

What People Are Saying

The National Weather Service forecast office, Fairbanks, Alaska said on X, Friday: “After a warm day in Fairbanks, temps will drop tonight as snow falls. There will be some areas of black ice which may develop underneath a layer of snow as surfaces refreeze. Please use extra caution tonight if you are out and about as it will turn slick after sundown!”

NWS St. Louis, Missouri said on X, Saturday: “Widespread freezing temperatures are expected tonight. Remember to protect your sensitive vegetation and disconnect your water hoses.”

What Happens Next

At the time of writing, the winter weather advisory for Alaska was in effect until 10 a.m. AKDT Saturday.

The NWS issues updates regularly on its website and social media channels.