Temperatures drop 30 degrees in hours across 4 states

Temperatures are forecast to plummet across four central US states, prompting forecasters to issue a series of freeze warnings on Monday.

National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters issued freeze advisories for seven states on Monday, with some of those states expecting temperatures in the low 30s overnight.

Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas and South Dakota are the states that expect the most severe drop in temperatures. During the day Monday, temperatures ranged from the upper 50s to the low 60s for each of these regions, with the forecast calling for temperatures to drop into the low 20s overnight. Most of the freeze warnings were expected to come into effect overnight.

NWS meteorologist Michael Connelly said Newsweek that it is “very common” for the Aberdeen, South Dakota area to see temperatures drop this low this time of year.

“We’re very close to what would be the normal end of the growing season,” he said.

On Wednesday, temperatures are expected to rise in some of the affected areas.

“Fall is a season of ups and downs! Expect another hard freeze tonight, with a cool start to the week before temperatures return to above normal,” the NWS office in Aberdeen, Dakota, posted South, to X, before Twitter. “With strong southerly winds, these warmer temperatures bring increased fire danger.”

Minnesota, North Dakota and Michigan also had freeze advisories. Temperatures were expected to drop 20 to 25 degrees overnight.

“Frost and freezing conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” the NWS freeze warning said. “Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent water pipes from freezing, wrap or drain them or let them drip slowly.”

In addition to the freeze advisories, NWS meteorologists issued other advisories related to cold weather.

NWS offices in Illinois, Maryland, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri have issued a freeze watch. NWS offices in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Missouri, South Carolina, Maryland, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois also issued a frost warning.

Frost forms when temperatures are cold enough to freeze dew into ice. Temperatures should be 32 degrees or less, but frost can still crystallize even if outside temperatures are above freezing because temperatures can be up to 10 degrees colder near the ground.

The cold temperatures arrive as AccuWeather released its 2024-2025 winter forecast for the United States. Much of the United States, including the central, southern, and eastern regions, is expecting slightly above-normal temperatures during the winter.

Below normal temperatures are expected in the Northwest, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. This winter is also expected to bring multiple atmospheric rivers to the West Coast, namely California.