Key facts
- Alert
- Freeze Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Jackson KY
- Areas
- Rowan; Menifee; Jackson; Laurel; Whitley; Knox; Bell; Harlan; Elliott; Morgan; Johnson; Wolfe; Magoffin; Floyd; Lee; Breathitt; Knott; Owsley; Perry; Clay; Leslie; Letcher; Martin; Pike
- In effect
- until 9:00 AM EDT, Oct 19, 2026
What the National Weather Service says
“Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”
NWS Jackson KY, Freeze Warning, 8:47 PM EDT Oct 18, 2026 · official alert
“Widespread frost and light freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation in valley locales.”
NWS Jackson KY, Freeze Warning, 8:47 PM EDT Oct 18, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. Cover them or bring potted plants indoors before the warning starts at 1 AM EDT Monday.
Protect pipes and pets from the cold. Bring pets inside and wrap or cover exposed outdoor pipes and spigots.
Check on older neighbors. If you must drive early Monday, allow extra time and carry a winter kit, since the National Weather Service advises avoiding travel when you can.
Context
The warning covers Rowan, Menifee, Jackson, Laurel, Whitley, Knox, Bell, Harlan, Elliott, Morgan, Johnson, Wolfe, Magoffin, Floyd, Lee, Breathitt, Knott, Owsley, Perry, Clay, Leslie, Letcher, Martin and Pike counties.
FEMA records show past disaster declarations in several of these counties, including a severe winter storm declaration on 2026-05-29 for two of the three counties with records in this alert. Flood insurance claim counts only cover insured homes and are not a measure of freeze damage.
Updates
- The freeze warning expired at 9:00 AM EDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the freeze warning; it remains in effect until 9:00 AM EDT.
- NWS Jackson KY issued the freeze warning until 9:00 AM EDT.
History here
This county: 293 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2026.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4848 (2024): remnants of hurricane helene
- DR-4592 (2021): severe winter storms, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-4239 (2015): severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslide
- DR-4218 (2015): severe winter storm, snowstorm, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-4217 (2015): severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
This county: 17 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 2018, most recent 2023.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4913 (2026): severe winter storm
- DR-4875 (2025): severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes
- DR-4860 (2025): severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-4848 (2024): remnants of hurricane helene
- DR-4804 (2024): severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, landslides, and mudslides
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-4937 (2026): severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-4913 (2026): severe winter storm
- DR-4875 (2025): severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes
- DR-4864 (2025): severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-4860 (2025): severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
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Questions
- Is there a freeze warning in eastern Kentucky?
- Yes. The National Weather Service in Jackson, Kentucky issued a Freeze Warning for 24 counties, including Rowan, Laurel, Pike and Perry, from 1 AM to 9 AM EDT Monday.
- How cold will it get during the Kentucky freeze warning?
- The National Weather Service expects near-freezing to sub-freezing valley temperatures as low as 29 degrees.
- What could the freeze damage?
- The National Weather Service says widespread frost and light freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation in valley locations.
Sources
- NWS Jackson KY: Freeze Warning, Oct 18, 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.