Key facts
- Alert
- Freeze Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service offices: Cleveland OH, Wilmington OH
- Areas
- Lucas; Wood; Ottawa; Sandusky; Erie; Lorain; Cuyahoga; Geauga; Ashtabula Inland; Hancock; Seneca; Huron; Medina; Summit; Portage; Trumbull; Wyandot; Crawford; Richland; Ashland; Wayne; Stark; Mahoning; Marion; Morrow; Holmes; Knox; Southern Erie; Fayette; Union; Franklin; Ripley; Dearborn; Ohio; Switzerland; Carroll; Gallatin; Boone; Kenton; Campbell; Owen; Grant; Pendleton; Bracken; Robertson; Mason; Lewis; Hardin; Mercer; Auglaize; Darke; Shelby; Logan; Delaware; Miami; Champaign; Clark; Madison; Licking; Preble; Montgomery; Greene; Pickaway; Fairfield; Butler; Warren; Clinton; Ross; Hocking; Hamilton; Clermont; Brown; Highland; Adams; Pike; Scioto
- 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: Cleveland OH, Wilmington OH, Freeze Warning, 7:47 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: Cleveland OH, Wilmington OH, Freeze Warning, 7:47 AM EDT Oct 17, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. Cover them or bring them indoors before the warning starts at 1 AM EDT Sunday.
Protect outdoor plumbing and pipes, since the National Weather Service says unprotected outdoor plumbing could be damaged. Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses if you can.
Bring pets inside, and check on older neighbors. If you must drive in the cold, carry a winter kit.
Context
The alert covers a large area, including Lucas, Wood and Ottawa counties in Ohio. FEMA flood-insurance claim counts, such as 1,210 for Lucas County, cover only insured homes and say nothing about freeze risk.
FEMA lists one past disaster declaration for Lucas County: severe storms, tornadoes, straight line winds, and flooding on July 2, 2006. It was a different hazard from this freeze.
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- The freeze warning is no longer in effect.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.
- National Weather Service offices: Cleveland OH, Wilmington OH issued the freeze warning until 9:00 AM EDT.
History here
This county: 1210 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2026.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-1651 (2006): severe storms, tornadoes, straight line winds, and flooding
This county: 212 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2026.
This county: 1397 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2026.
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Questions
- Is there a freeze warning in Ohio?
- Yes. The National Weather Service issued a Freeze Warning for parts of north central, northeast and northwest Ohio, plus northwest Pennsylvania. It is in effect from 1 AM to 9 AM EDT Sunday.
- How cold will it get during the freeze warning?
- The National Weather Service expects sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
- When does the freeze warning end?
- The warning expires at 9:00 AM EDT Sunday. It was issued at 12:39 AM EDT on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Sources
- National Weather Service offices: Cleveland OH, Wilmington OH: 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.