Alert archive / California / Freeze Warnings in 2026

Freeze Warning 4, NWS Eureka, CA

April 17, 2026Trinity County, California

NWS Eureka, CA issued this freeze warning at Apr 17, 2026, 11:09 AM PDT for Trinity County, California. It took effect at Apr 18, 2026, 1:00 AM PDT. It was in force for 7 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 17, 2026, 11:09 AM PDT (18:09 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 18, 2026, 1:00 AM PDT
Expired
Apr 18, 2026, 8:00 AM PDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Eureka, CA

County Trinity County, CA

The radar

The Eureka (Bunker Hill) radar (KBHX), 101 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:10 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Oakland, CA (KOAK), launched 12:00Z, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 334 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Oakland, CA at 12:00Z on 2026-04-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Oakland, CA at 12:00Z on 2026-04-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -86 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2986 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-86 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-77 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

302 
WWUS76 KEKA 171809
NPWEKA

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Eureka CA
1109 AM PDT Fri Apr 17 2026

CAZ108-116-117-180215-
/O.NEW.KEKA.FZ.W.0004.260418T0800Z-260418T1500Z/
Southern Trinity-Northwestern and Central Trinity-Northeastern
Trinity-
Including Hayfork
1109 AM PDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM PDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 31 expected.

* WHERE...Northeastern Trinity, Northwestern and Central Trinity, and
  Southern Trinity.

* WHEN...From 1 AM to 8 AM PDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other
  sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
  plumbing.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

&&

$$

CAZ106-110-114-118-180215-
/O.NEW.KEKA.FR.Y.0015.260418T0800Z-260418T1500Z/
Southeastern Interior Humboldt-Northwestern Interior Mendocino-
Northern Lake-Western Lake-
Including Willits
1109 AM PDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM PDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Temperatures as low as 34 will result in frost formation.

* WHERE...Northern Lake, Western Lake, Northwestern Interior
  Mendocino, and Southeastern Interior Humboldt.

* WHEN...From 1 AM to 8 AM PDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive
  outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

&&

$$

For hazard areas see https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=eka

MKK
4 follow-up statements
091 
WWUS76 KEKA 180210
NPWEKA

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Eureka CA
710 PM PDT Fri Apr 17 2026

CAZ108-116-117-181015-
/O.CON.KEKA.FZ.W.0004.260418T0800Z-260418T1500Z/
Southern Trinity-Northwestern and Central Trinity-Northeastern
Trinity-
Including Hayfork
710 PM PDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM PDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 31 expected.

* WHERE...Northeastern Trinity, Northwestern and Central Trinity, and
  Southern Trinity.

* WHEN...From 1 AM to 8 AM PDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other
  sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
  plumbing.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

&&

$$

CAZ106-110-114-118-181015-
/O.CON.KEKA.FR.Y.0015.260418T0800Z-260418T1500Z/
Southeastern Interior Humboldt-Northwestern Interior Mendocino-
Northern Lake-Western Lake-
Including Willits
710 PM PDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM PDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Temperatures as low as 34 will result in frost formation.

* WHERE...Northern Lake, Western Lake, Northwestern Interior
  Mendocino, and Southeastern Interior Humboldt.

* WHEN...From 1 AM to 8 AM PDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive
  outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

&&

$$

For hazard areas see https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=eka

DS
487 
WWUS76 KEKA 180815
NPWEKA

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Eureka CA
115 AM PDT Sat Apr 18 2026

CAZ108-116-117-181500-
/O.CON.KEKA.FZ.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260418T1500Z/
Southern Trinity-Northwestern and Central Trinity-Northeastern
Trinity-
Including Hayfork
115 AM PDT Sat Apr 18 2026

...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM PDT THIS MORNING...

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 31.

* WHERE...Northeastern Trinity, Northwestern and Central Trinity, and
  Southern Trinity.

* WHEN...Until 8 AM PDT this morning.

* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other
  sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
  plumbing.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

&&

$$

CAZ106-110-114-118-181500-
/O.CON.KEKA.FR.Y.0015.000000T0000Z-260418T1500Z/
Southeastern Interior Humboldt-Northwestern Interior Mendocino-
Northern Lake-Western Lake-
Including Willits
115 AM PDT Sat Apr 18 2026

...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM PDT THIS MORNING...

* WHAT...Temperatures as low as 34 will result in frost formation.

* WHERE...Northern Lake, Western Lake, Northwestern Interior
  Mendocino, and Southeastern Interior Humboldt.

* WHEN...Until 8 AM PDT this morning.

* IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive
  outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

&&

$$

For hazard areas see https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=eka

DS
393 
WWUS76 KEKA 180822
NPWEKA

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Eureka CA
122 AM PDT Sat Apr 18 2026

CAZ108-116-117-181500-
/O.CON.KEKA.FZ.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260418T1500Z/
Southern Trinity-Northwestern and Central Trinity-Northeastern
Trinity-
Including Hayfork
122 AM PDT Sat Apr 18 2026

...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM PDT THIS MORNING...

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 31.

* WHERE...Northeastern Trinity, Northwestern and Central Trinity, and
  Southern Trinity.

* WHEN...Until 8 AM PDT this morning.

* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other
  sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
  plumbing.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

&&

$$

CAZ106-110-114-118-181500-
/O.CON.KEKA.FR.Y.0015.000000T0000Z-260418T1500Z/
Southeastern Interior Humboldt-Northwestern Interior Mendocino-
Northern Lake-Western Lake-
Including Willits
122 AM PDT Sat Apr 18 2026

...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM PDT THIS MORNING...

* WHAT...Temperatures as low as 34 will result in frost formation.

* WHERE...Northern Lake, Western Lake, Northwestern Interior
  Mendocino, and Southeastern Interior Humboldt.

* WHEN...Until 8 AM PDT this morning.

* IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive
  outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

&&

$$

For hazard areas see https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=eka

EYS
620 
WWUS76 KEKA 181505
NPWEKA

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Eureka CA
805 AM PDT Sat Apr 18 2026

CAZ108-116-117-181615-
/O.EXP.KEKA.FZ.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260418T1500Z/
Southern Trinity-Northwestern and Central Trinity-Northeastern
Trinity-
Including Hayfork
805 AM PDT Sat Apr 18 2026

...FREEZE WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

The threat has ended.

$$

CAZ106-110-114-118-181615-
/O.EXP.KEKA.FR.Y.0015.000000T0000Z-260418T1500Z/
Southeastern Interior Humboldt-Northwestern Interior Mendocino-
Northern Lake-Western Lake-
Including Willits
805 AM PDT Sat Apr 18 2026

...FROST ADVISORY HAS EXPIRED...

The threat has ended.

$$

For hazard areas see https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=eka

MKK

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this freeze warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Eureka, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this freeze warning went out at Apr 17, 12:27 AM PDT, 10 hours 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 17, 12:27 AM PDT, 10 hours 42 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
1227 AM PDT Fri Apr 17 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Near-freezing to freezing overnight low temperatures
expected through the end of the week. Breezy winds forecasted for
Lake County through Friday afternoon. Rain expected late weekend
into next week before a potential drying trend to end next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Surface high pressure off the PacNW coastline is interacting
with surface low pressure near Las Vegas. This pressure gradient is
the driving force for the breezy winds that were present Thursday.
These winds are forecasted to continue through Friday morning, the
strongest of which are expected to form in Lake County. Overall, winds
will be below wind advisory level. However, due to the complex terrain
of Lake County, sporadic gusts could 30mph with exposed ridges possibly
reaching up to 40mph.

The aforementioned surface high pressure system is formed by colder
air aloft. This dry, cold air is allowing overnight and early morning
temperatures to get very cold. Interior temperatures are forecasted
to drop as low as decaf below freezing again this morning. Coastal
temperatures could get as low as freezing for the entire NW CA coastline.
Freeze Warnings have been issued for some of the coldest interior valleys,
along with Frost Advisories for most coastal areas. It is recommended
to cover sensitive plants and take other precautions to protect agricultural
property. Icy roads also pose a possible threat through the morning.

This coming weekend's storm track as varied slightly. Global models
now show an upper level trof developing farther out in the Pacific
than previous models indicated. By the time this storm begins to impact
NW CA, the storm looks to be more of a cutoff low than a sustained
deep trough. 250mb winds shows the polar jet stream breaking off from
this storm. Rainfall is still forecasted for the entire CWA. CW3E shows
around an 80% probability of IVT values over 250kg/m/s and a majority
of ensembles members show IVT values between 200-400 IVT. This very
weak AR will move slowly, stalling off the coast funneling moisture
over the area from Sunday through Monday. Sunday's rain is forecasted
to arrive anytime from the morning to the early afternoon as of now.
Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon looks to be rainiest period.
NBM data shows the heaviest rainfall rates and totals for the King
Range and northern Mendocino County of 2.00-3.00". Elsewhere, rain
looks to be between 0.50-1.00" for valleys and between 1.00-1.50" for
interior mountains of Del Norte, Humboldt, Southern Trinity, and Mendocino
counties. Snow levels are generally expected to be around 5,000 feet
ahead of the upper level low.

Widespread rain could shift into showers as soon as Monday evening with
less widespread coverage. Showers may linger into Wednesday as the upper
level low slowly takes its time moving out of the area. The GFS and
ECMWF both show high pressure and dry weather is forecasted for the
end of next week after these showers pass. DS

&&

.AVIATION...(06Z TAFs)...VFR conditions are likely at all terminals
for the next 24 hours. Surface winds are forecast to ease early this
morning , and generally turn easterly. There will be a slight low
level wind shear (LLWS) threat early this morning across the area,
especially over the interior, as north winds remain strong aloft.
This LLWS threat diminishes by sunrise. JB

&&

.MARINE...Northerly winds continue to ease through this
morning as the pressure gradient weakens. Steep seas around 10 to 12
ft at 10 seconds will slowly subside down to 5 to 7 ft by Friday
afternoon. The strongest winds in the lee of Cape Mendocino and in
the northern outer waters in the lee of Cape Blanco will stay above
gale force into early/mid morning. A frontal system moves through
the area Saturday night into Sunday. Winds will increase and turn
southerly. Wind gusts are forecast to peak at around 20 to 25 kts,
but there is a low-end chance (15%) for gale force gusts Sunday and
Monday in the outer waters. A mid-period west swell will also arrive
Monday, peaking at around 8 to 10 ft at 13 seconds. Winds and seas
gradually subside Tuesday. Stronger northerly winds return mid to
late next week. JB&JLW

&&

.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...
     Frost Advisory until 9 AM PDT this morning for CAZ101-103-
     104-109-112-113.

     Freeze Warning until 9 AM PDT this morning for CAZ102-105-
     106-108-110-111-114-116>118.

NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
     Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT early this morning for
     PZZ450.

     Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT early this morning for PZZ455-
     470-475.

&&

NOTE: The full forecast discussion is now regularly issued between
10 am/pm and 1 pm/am. Additional updates will be issued as needed.

Visit us at https://www.weather.gov/eureka

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at:
https://www.facebook.com/NWSEureka
https://www.twitter.com/NWSEureka

For forecast zone information
see the forecast zone map online:
https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.png

The office that day

Everything else NWS Eureka, CA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 17, 5:23 AM PDTSmall Craft AdvisoryEKA13 hr
Apr 17, 11:09 AM PDTFrost AdvisoryEKAHumboldt, Lake, Mendocino21 hr

Nearby

Freeze Warnings in California, 2026Every freeze warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.