Key facts
- Alert
- Freeze Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Buffalo NY
- Areas
- Niagara; Orleans; Monroe; Wayne; Northern Cayuga; Northern Erie; Genesee
- In effect
- until 9:00 AM EDT, Oct 18, 2026
What the National Weather Service says
“FREEZE WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 AM EDT THIS MORNING”
NWS Buffalo NY, Freeze Warning, 8:35 AM EDT Oct 18, 2026 · official alert
“The threat of freezing temperatures has ended, therefore the Freeze Warning will be allowed to expire.”
NWS Buffalo NY, Freeze Warning, 8:35 AM EDT Oct 18, 2026 · official alert
What to do
The National Weather Service says the freezing threat has ended, so no special action is required for this warning. The alert was issued at 8:35 AM EDT and runs out at 9:00 AM EDT.
If you covered plants or drained outdoor pipes during the freeze, you can uncover plants and check that pipes and outdoor faucets were not damaged. Look for slow flow or leaks.
Check the latest National Weather Service forecast for your county before planning travel or outdoor work, since temperatures can drop again on later nights.
Context
FEMA flood-insurance claims count only insured homes and businesses, so they do not show all damage. They are not related to freezes. Since 1978, FEMA records 828 claims in Monroe County, 184 in Niagara County and 39 in Orleans County.
FEMA has also recorded disaster declarations in these counties. Niagara County had a severe winter storm and snowstorm declaration in March 2023, and Monroe County had a flooding declaration in November 2017.
Updates
- The freeze warning expired at 9:00 AM EDT.
- NWS Buffalo NY issued the freeze warning until 9:00 AM EDT.
History here
This county: 184 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2026.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4694 (2023): severe winter storm and snowstorm
- DR-4348 (2017): flooding
- DR-4129 (2013): severe storms and flooding
- DR-1993 (2011): severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds
- DR-1665 (2006): severe storms and flooding
This county: 39 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1979, most recent 2026.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4348 (2017): flooding
- DR-4322 (2017): severe winter storm and snowstorm
- DR-4204 (2014): severe winter storm, snowstorm, and flooding
- DR-1665 (2006): severe storms and flooding
This county: 828 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2026.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4348 (2017): flooding
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Questions
- Is there a Freeze Warning in western New York today?
- The National Weather Service in Buffalo says the Freeze Warning will expire at 9:00 AM EDT on Sunday, October 18, 2026, because the threat of freezing temperatures has ended.
- Which counties were under the Freeze Warning?
- The warning covered Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Northern Cayuga, Northern Erie and Genesee counties in New York.
- When did the Freeze Warning end?
- It was allowed to expire at 9:00 AM EDT. The National Weather Service issued the expiration notice at 8:35 AM EDT.
Sources
- NWS Buffalo NY: 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.