Key facts
- Alert
- Freeze Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service offices: Northern Indiana, Indianapolis IN
- Areas
- Lagrange; Steuben; Noble; De Kalb; Whitley; Allen; Miami; Wabash; Huntington; Wells; Adams; Grant; Blackford; Jay; Northern Kosciusko; Southern Kosciusko; Williams; Fulton; Defiance; Henry; Paulding; Putnam; Van Wert; Clinton; Howard; Montgomery; Boone; Tipton; Hamilton; Madison; Delaware; Randolph; Hendricks; Hancock; Shelby; Rush; Decatur
- In effect
- until 9:00 AM EDT, Oct 18, 2026
What the National Weather Service says
“Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”
National Weather Service offices: Northern Indiana, Indianapolis IN, Freeze Warning, 10:06 AM EDT Oct 17, 2026 · official alert
“Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 expected.”
National Weather Service offices: Northern Indiana, Indianapolis IN, Freeze Warning, 10:06 AM EDT 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: Northern Indiana, Indianapolis IN, Freeze Warning, 10:06 AM EDT Oct 17, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. Cover them or move them indoors before the warning begins at 2 AM EDT Sunday.
Protect outdoor plumbing, since the National Weather Service says unprotected pipes could be damaged. Standard guidance is to cover exposed pipes and disconnect garden hoses.
Protect pets from the cold, and check on older neighbors. If you must drive in the early morning, take care and carry a winter kit.
Context
The warning covers many counties in Indiana and several in Ohio. Examples in the area include Clinton, Boone and Howard counties in Indiana.
FEMA flood-insurance claim counts, such as 490 in one covered county, count only insured homes and businesses with flood policies. They do not measure freeze impacts, and they are not a forecast for this event.
Updates
- The freeze warning is no longer in effect.
- The National Weather Service updated the freeze warning; it remains in effect until 9:00 AM EDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the freeze warning; it remains in effect until 9:00 AM EDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the freeze warning; it remains in effect until 9:00 AM EDT.
- National Weather Service offices: Indianapolis IN, Northern Indiana issued the freeze warning until 9:00 AM EDT.
History here
This county: 26 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1981, most recent 2026.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4704 (2023): severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes
- DR-4173 (2014): severe winter storm and snowstorm
This county: 490 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1980, most recent 2026.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4704 (2023): severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes
This county: 99 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1979, most recent 2025.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
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Questions
- Is there a freeze warning in central Indiana?
- Yes. The National Weather Service issued a Freeze Warning for portions of central and east central Indiana, in effect from 2 AM to 9 AM EDT Sunday.
- How cold will it get?
- The National Weather Service expects sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
- What should I do to protect my plants and pipes?
- The National Weather Service says to take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. It also warns that unprotected outdoor plumbing could be damaged.
Sources
- National Weather Service offices: Northern Indiana, Indianapolis IN: 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.