A freeze warning has been issued for parts of seven US states, putting nearly 12 million Americans under alert tonight as temperatures plunge to as low as 15°F. 

The Arctic blast is sweeping across Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, New Mexico and Arizona, threatening to kill crops, damage outdoor plumbing and destroy sensitive vegetation. 

The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned that the coldest air of the season will hit western and central Kansas, the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, southeastern Colorado, central and eastern Nebraska, northern Texas, west-central Texas, and southeastern Arizona overnight into Thursday morning. 

Locals in Kansas are bracing for subfreezing temperatures between 25°F and 30°F, while northern areas could drop even lower. 

Across Texas, the warning stretches from Lubbock and Childress down to Wheeler and Collingsworth Counties, with lows expected between 24°F and 26°F, 

It also extends south to Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, Abilene, and the Davis Mountains near Fort Davis, with readings as low as 27 to 30°F. 

In Oklahoma, the Beaver area is forecast to experience a hard freeze by dawn, while central Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City, Norman, Lawton, and Enid, will see lows near 29°F.

Colorado's southeastern plains and central Nebraska could see temperatures drop to the mid-20s, while southeastern Arizona faces 30–34°F in low-lying areas.

Forecasters said this widespread cold snap will mark an abrupt end to the growing season for much of the region, with multiple rounds of freezing temperatures expected through the weekend.

Residents are being urged to protect outdoor pipes, cover plants, and bring pets indoors before the deep chill sets in tonight.  

In Dodge City, Liberal, Pratt, Wichita, Salina, Hutchinson, McPherson and Manhattan, Kansas, gardeners are racing to harvest tomatoes and basil before the mercury sinks to 25 to 30°F. 

Farther north, Hastings, Grand Island, Kearney, York, Beatrice,and Lincoln, Nebraska, will join the freeze zone with lows of 24 to 28°F, prompting food-bank coordinators to issue urgent calls for volunteers to salvage late-season produce.

The Amarillo office warns that the Texas Panhandle, including Pampa, Dumas, Canadian, and Perryton, will see 24°F between 2am and 9am local time Thursday, while Lubbock forecasts 25°F across Crosby, Terry, Lynn and Briscoe counties.

 Albuquerque’s Rio Grande Valley, including the metro area, braces for 28°F, with the coldest pockets along the river; the Northeast Heights should stay just above freezing.

Midland-Odessa and San Angelo extend the warning into the Permian Basin and Concho Valley, where Big Spring, Snyder, and Sweetwater expect 27 to 30°F.  

In the Davis Mountains, Fort Davis and Marfa will dip to 28°F, and the Van Horn corridor along Highway 54 faces the same. 

Norman, Oklahoma, covers nearly all of central and western Oklahoma, plus Wichita Falls, Texas, with 29°F expected from Enid to Lawton to Archer City.

Tucson’s alert targets the Sulphur Springs Valley below 5,000 feet, Willcox, Douglas, and Safford, where drainage areas may hit 30 to 34°F.

 El Paso and Santa Teresa include the Tularosa Basin, Alamogordo, and White Sands, with rural lows of 28 to 32°F. Even Goodland, Kansas, and Red Willow County, Nebraska, will see 26°F overnight.

The NWS Hastings office notes this may be the final frost/freeze product of fall 2025, as the entire region is now past its average first-freeze date. Multiple mornings of sub-freezing temperatures are likely through the weekend, especially Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. 

For city dwellers, the main concern is burst pipes and slippery morning commutes. 

The cold air is not coming alone, as strong northwest winds are expected to accompany the system, making it feel even colder. 

Wind chills could fall into the single digits in exposed areas, especially across high elevations in Colorado and western Kansas. 

The sharp temperature contrast between the Arctic air and warmer southern states could also trigger a narrow band of light snow or freezing drizzle, particularly in northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. 

Officials are advising residents to take precautions now. Gardeners should harvest remaining vegetables and cover perennials, while homeowners are urged to drain outdoor hoses, insulate faucets, and set thermostats to prevent pipes from freezing. 

Pet owners are also reminded to keep animals indoors or ensure they have adequate shelter and bedding. 

While the chill will dominate much of the Plains for the next several days, meteorologists say a gradual warm-up is likely by early next week. 

Daytime highs could rebound into the 50s and 60s by Monday as southerly winds return. 

Still, the early-season freeze serves as a stark reminder that winter is coming early for much of the country.