Freeze Warning Issued for Southern Illinois
The National Weather Service in Paducah has warned of freezing temperatures across parts of Southern Illinois beginning Friday night.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Forecasts
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The National Weather Service in Paducah issued a Freeze Warning for portions of Southern Illinois, in effect from 11 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Saturday, with temperatures expected to drop as low as 30 degrees. A Frost Advisory covers Edwards, Wabash, White, and Gallatin counties, and a Freeze Watch was issued for Saturday evening through Sunday morning.
Why it matters
The coldest temperatures of the fall season are moving into the region, and the freezes are likely to bring the growing season to an end across much of Southern Illinois. Residents with sensitive plants or exposed outdoor pipes face the most immediate risk.
Forecasts call for lows of 30 degrees under the Freeze Warning and possibly 29 degrees under the Freeze Watch, with the Frost Advisory area near 33 degrees early Saturday. The exact locations where the coldest readings will occur remain unspecified.
The players
National Weather Service in Paducah
The local forecast office of the National Weather Service that issues warnings and advisories for Southern Illinois and surrounding areas.
The details
The Freeze Warning covers Wayne, Jefferson, Hamilton, Franklin, Perry, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, and Union counties. Frost and freezing temperatures could damage or kill sensitive vegetation, crops, and unprotected outdoor plants, and exposed outdoor plumbing could be damaged by the cold.
Timeline
Friday, November 6, 2026 at 11 p.m.: Freeze Warning takes effect.
Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 8 a.m.: Freeze Warning expires, with the Frost Advisory low around 33 degrees.
Saturday evening through Sunday morning, November 7-8, 2026: Freeze Watch period with temperatures possibly reaching 29 degrees.
Monday morning, November 9, 2026: Chilly start with lows in the middle 30s.
Next week, approximately November 10-13, 2026: Afternoon highs return to the middle 60s.
Seasonal Patterns
The Freeze Warning and Frost Advisory mark the typical early-November transition from the growing season to winter conditions across Southern Illinois. The colder spell is expected to be relatively short-lived, with afternoon highs returning to the middle 60s next week.
Bring sensitive plants indoors and cover outdoor vegetation before Friday night to protect them from the freeze. Protect exposed outdoor water pipes, since the cold could damage unprotected plumbing.
The takeaway
Freezing temperatures this weekend are a signal that the growing season is ending across Southern Illinois, so protecting plants and pipes now can prevent avoidable damage. Residents should expect a quick return to milder afternoons next week.
What happens next
Afternoon highs are expected to return to the middle 60s next week, approximately November 10-13, 2026.
Further reading
Track the latest outlooks in our Forecasts section for more on how cold snaps like this one are predicted.
Live Poll
Are you taking steps to protect your plants and pipes from this weekend's freeze?
