Key facts
- Alert
- Freeze Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service offices: Quad Cities IA IL, Des Moines IA
- Areas
- Buchanan; Delaware; Dubuque; Benton; Linn; Jones; Jackson; Iowa; Johnson; Cedar; Clinton; Muscatine; Scott; Keokuk; Washington; Jefferson; Jo Daviess; Stephenson; Carroll; Whiteside; Rock Island; Emmet; Kossuth; Winnebago; Worth; Palo Alto; Hancock; Cerro Gordo; Pocahontas; Humboldt; Wright; Franklin; Butler; Bremer; Sac; Calhoun; Webster; Hamilton; Hardin; Grundy; Black Hawk; Crawford; Greene; Boone; Story; Marshall; Tama; Audubon; Guthrie; Dallas; Polk; Jasper; Poweshiek; Cass; Adair; Madison; Warren; Marion; Mahaska; Adams; Union; Clarke; Lucas; Monroe; Wapello; Taylor; Ringgold; Decatur; Wayne; Appanoose
- In effect
- until 9:00 AM CDT, Oct 17, 2026
What the National Weather Service says
“Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”
National Weather Service offices: Quad Cities IA IL, Des Moines IA, Freeze Warning, 8:45 AM CDT Oct 17, 2026 · official alert
“Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.”
National Weather Service offices: Quad Cities IA IL, Des Moines IA, Freeze Warning, 8:45 AM CDT Oct 17, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. Cover sensitive plants or bring potted ones indoors before the freeze begins at 1 AM CDT.
Protect outdoor plumbing, since the National Weather Service says freezing temperatures could damage unprotected pipes. Cover or insulate exposed pipes and outdoor faucets.
Bring pets inside and check on older neighbors. If you must drive early Saturday, carry a winter kit and avoid travel if you can.
Context
The National Weather Service issued this warning at 2:53 PM CDT on Friday, October 16, 2026. It covers dozens of counties in Iowa, plus parts of Illinois and Minnesota.
FEMA records for three of the counties in the warning show past disaster declarations for severe storms, flooding and tornadoes. The flood-insurance claim counts cover only insured homes and businesses, so they do not show all past flood damage. They also say nothing about freeze risk.
Updates
- The freeze warning expired at 9:00 AM CDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the freeze warning; it remains in effect until 9:00 AM CDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the freeze warning; it remains in effect until 9:00 AM CDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the freeze warning; it remains in effect until 9:00 AM CDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the freeze warning; it remains in effect until 9:00 AM CDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the freeze warning; it remains in effect until 9:00 AM CDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the freeze warning; it remains in effect until 9:00 AM CDT.
- National Weather Service offices: Des Moines IA, Quad Cities IA IL, Sioux Falls SD issued the freeze warning until 9:00 AM CDT.
History here
This county: 19 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1979, most recent 2024.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4796 (2024): severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes
- DR-4642 (2022): severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes
- DR-4421 (2019): severe storms and flooding
- DR-4386 (2018): severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding
- DR-4184 (2014): severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding
This county: 2 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1979, most recent 2019.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4796 (2024): severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes
- DR-4784 (2024): severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding
- DR-4421 (2019): severe storms and flooding
- DR-4386 (2018): severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding
- DR-4184 (2014): severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding
This county: 2 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1979, most recent 1993.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4796 (2024): severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes
- DR-4421 (2019): severe storms and flooding
- DR-4386 (2018): severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding
- DR-4184 (2014): severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding
- DR-4126 (2013): severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding
Get these alerts on your iPhone
Herebeat is an iPhone app that shows official alerts like these (National Weather Service warnings, earthquakes, wildfires, air quality and more) for the places you save, each with its source and issue time. Download Herebeat on the App Store.
Questions
- Is there a freeze warning in central Iowa?
- Yes. The National Weather Service has a Freeze Warning for much of central Iowa and other nearby counties from 1 AM to 9 AM CDT Saturday.
- How cold will it get during the freeze warning?
- The National Weather Service expects sub-freezing temperatures as low as 29-32, along with widespread frost.
- What could the freeze damage?
- Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. They could also damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Sources
- National Weather Service offices: Quad Cities IA IL, Des Moines IA: Freeze Warning, Oct 17, 2026 weather.gov
- FEMA OpenFEMA: NFIP claims and disaster declarations fema.gov
How this page is made. The Herebeat Hazard Desk builds event pages from official U.S. government data (National Weather Service, USGS, FEMA). The text is written with AI from that data; every number and quote is checked against the official source automatically before publishing, and the page is updated when the agency updates the event. The official source is always the reference. Spotted a mistake? info@herebeat.app. About the Hazard Desk.