Key facts
- Alert
- Freeze Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service offices: Lubbock TX, Midland/Odessa TX
- Areas
- Parmer; Castro; Swisher; Briscoe; Bailey; Lamb; Hale; Floyd; Cochran; Hockley; Lubbock; Crosby; Yoakum; Terry; Lynn; Northern Lea County; Central Lea County; Davis Mountains
- In effect
- until 10:00 AM CDT, Oct 17, 2026
What the National Weather Service says
“Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 27 expected.”
National Weather Service offices: Lubbock TX, Midland/Odessa TX, Freeze Warning, 10:39 PM CDT Oct 16, 2026 · official alert
“Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.”
National Weather Service offices: Lubbock TX, Midland/Odessa TX, Freeze Warning, 10:39 PM CDT Oct 16, 2026 · official alert
“Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”
National Weather Service offices: Lubbock TX, Midland/Odessa TX, Freeze Warning, 10:39 PM CDT Oct 16, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. Cover them or bring them indoors before the freeze ends at 9:00 AM CDT.
Protect outdoor plumbing, since the National Weather Service says unprotected pipes could be damaged. Cover exposed pipes and outdoor faucets where you can.
Bring pets indoors or give them warm shelter. Check on older neighbors.
Avoid travel if you can. If you must drive, carry a winter kit.
Context
The warning covers many counties across the Texas Panhandle, South Plains, the Oklahoma Panhandle and part of New Mexico. The alert was issued at 12:33 AM CDT and continued earlier warning information.
FEMA records for three Oklahoma Panhandle counties show past disaster declarations, including severe winter storms in 2021. Flood-insurance claim counts there are small (1 to 3 claims) and cover only insured homes, so they say little about freeze risk.
Updates
- The freeze warning is no longer in effect.
- The National Weather Service updated the freeze warning; it remains in effect until 10:00 AM CDT.
- National Weather Service offices: Amarillo TX, Lubbock TX, Midland/Odessa TX issued the freeze warning until 9:00 AM CDT.
History here
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4721 (2023): severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes
- DR-4587 (2021): severe winter storms
- DR-4315 (2017): severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding
- DR-1926 (2010): severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding
- DR-1803 (2008): severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding
This county: 3 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 2024, most recent 2024.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4587 (2021): severe winter storms
- DR-4315 (2017): severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding
- DR-4299 (2017): severe winter storm
- DR-1926 (2010): severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding
- DR-1883 (2010): severe winter storm
This county: 1 flood insurance claim in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 2002, most recent 2002.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
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Questions
- Is there a freeze warning in the Texas Panhandle?
- Yes. The National Weather Service has a Freeze Warning in effect until 9:00 AM CDT on Saturday, October 17, 2026, for portions of the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and nearby areas.
- How cold will it get during this freeze warning?
- The National Weather Service expects sub-freezing temperatures as low as 27.
- What could the freeze damage?
- Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. They could also possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Sources
- National Weather Service offices: Lubbock TX, Midland/Odessa TX: Freeze Warning, Oct 16, 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.