Key facts
- Alert
- Freeze Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service offices: Baltimore MD/Washington DC, Blacksburg VA
- Areas
- Washington; Frederick; Carroll; Northern Baltimore; Extreme Western Allegany; Central and Eastern Allegany; Northwest Harford; Western Garrett; Eastern Garrett; Augusta; Rockingham; Shenandoah; Page; Warren; Clarke; Western Highland; Eastern Highland; Western Loudoun; Northern Virginia Blue Ridge; Central Virginia Blue Ridge; Hampshire; Morgan; Berkeley; Jefferson; Hardy; Western Grant; Eastern Grant; Western Mineral; Eastern Mineral; Western Pendleton; Eastern Pendleton; Ashe; Alleghany; Watauga; Tazewell; Smyth; Bland; Giles; Wythe; Pulaski; Montgomery; Grayson; Floyd; Craig; Bath; Mercer; Summers; Monroe; Eastern Greenbrier; Western Greenbrier
- In effect
- until 9:00 AM EDT, Oct 18, 2026
What the National Weather Service says
“Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 expected.”
National Weather Service offices: Baltimore MD/Washington DC, Blacksburg VA, Freeze Warning, 8:09 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: Baltimore MD/Washington DC, Blacksburg VA, Freeze Warning, 8:09 AM EDT Oct 17, 2026 · official alert
“Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”
National Weather Service offices: Baltimore MD/Washington DC, Blacksburg VA, Freeze Warning, 8:09 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 freeze begins at 1 AM EDT Sunday.
Protect outdoor plumbing. Unprotected pipes and outdoor spigots can be damaged by freezing temperatures, so wrap or cover them if you can.
Bring pets indoors or give them a warm, sheltered place. Check on older neighbors who may need help with the cold.
If you must drive early Sunday, allow extra time and carry a winter kit. The warning ends at 9 AM EDT.
Context
The FEMA flood-insurance claim counts for the North Carolina counties in this warning cover only insured homes and businesses, not all damage. They show past flooding, not freeze risk. Counts range from 13 claims in one county to 463 in another.
Several of these North Carolina counties were part of FEMA disaster declarations, including Tropical Storm Helene in 2024. These past events are not linked to this freeze warning.
Updates
- The freeze warning is no longer in effect.
- The National Weather Service extended the freeze warning until 9:00 AM EDT.
- National Weather Service offices: Blacksburg VA, Baltimore MD/Washington DC issued the freeze warning until 9:00 AM EDT.
History here
This county: 183 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2024.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4827 (2024): tropical storm helene
- DR-4617 (2021): remnants of tropical storm fred
- DR-4588 (2021): tropical storm eta
- DR-4543 (2020): severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding
- DR-4393 (2018): hurricane florence
This county: 13 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1979, most recent 2024.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4827 (2024): tropical storm helene
- DR-4588 (2021): tropical storm eta
- DR-4393 (2018): hurricane florence
- DR-4146 (2013): severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-1871 (2010): severe winter storms and flooding
This county: 463 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2026.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
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Questions
- Is there a freeze warning in western Virginia right now?
- Yes. The National Weather Service has a Freeze Warning for parts of southwest and west central Virginia from 1 AM to 9 AM EDT Sunday. It also covers parts of northwest North Carolina and southeast West Virginia.
- How cold will it get during the freeze warning?
- The National Weather Service expects sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and sensitive vegetation.
- When does the freeze warning end?
- The warning is in effect until 9 AM EDT Sunday. It began at 1 AM EDT that morning.
Sources
- National Weather Service offices: Baltimore MD/Washington DC, Blacksburg VA: 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.