Alert archive / Minnesota / Freeze Warnings in 2026
Freeze Warning 4, NWS Twin Cities, MN
NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this freeze warning at May 5, 2026, 12:53 PM CDT for 20 counties in Minnesota; 6 counties in Wisconsin. It took effect at May 6, 2026, 2:00 AM CDT. It was in force for 6 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
- May 5, 2026, 12:53 PM CDT (17:53 UTC)
- In effect from
- May 6, 2026, 2:00 AM CDT
- Expired
- May 6, 2026, 8:00 AM CDT
- In force
- 6 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Twin Cities, MN
All 26 counties
Benton County, MN, Chippewa County, MN, Chisago County, MN, Douglas County, MN, Isanti County, MN, Kanabec County, MN, Kandiyohi County, MN, Lac qui Parle County, MN, Meeker County, MN, Mille Lacs County, MN, Morrison County, MN, Pope County, MN, Redwood County, MN, Renville County, MN, Sherburne County, MN, Stearns County, MN, Stevens County, MN, Swift County, MN, Todd County, MN, Yellow Medicine County, MN, Barron County, WI, Chippewa County, WI, Dunn County, WI, Eau Claire County, WI, Polk County, WI, Rusk County, WI
The radar
The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 67 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:54 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
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 5.9 hours before the alert went out and 66 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1487 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 78 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -115 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -45 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
097 WWUS73 KMPX 051753 NPWMPX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1253 PM CDT Tue May 5 2026 MNZ041>044-047>050-055>058-061000- /O.UPG.KMPX.FZ.A.0001.260506T0700Z-260506T1400Z/ /O.NEW.KMPX.FZ.W.0004.260506T0700Z-260506T1300Z/ Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Stevens-Pope-Stearns-Benton- Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Meeker- Including the cities of Willmar, Morris, St Cloud, Glenwood, Montevideo, Sauk Rapids, Princeton, Litchfield, Little Falls, Alexandria, Benson, and Long Prairie 1253 PM CDT Tue May 5 2026 ...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM CDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 expected. * WHERE...Benton, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Morrison, Stearns, Todd, Mille Lacs, Chippewa, Douglas, Pope, Stevens, and Swift Counties. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 8 AM CDT Wednesday. * 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. && $$ MNZ045-051>054-064-065-073-WIZ014>016-025-027-028-061000- /O.NEW.KMPX.FZ.W.0004.260506T0700Z-260506T1300Z/ Kanabec-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Yellow Medicine- Renville-Redwood-Polk-Barron-Rusk-Dunn-Chippewa-Eau Claire- Including the cities of Eau Claire, Granite Falls, Mora, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Center City, Cambridge, Olivia, Osceola, Redwood Falls, Ladysmith, Elk River, Madison, and Rice Lake 1253 PM CDT Tue May 5 2026 ...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM CDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 29 expected. * WHERE...In Minnesota, Renville, Sherburne, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Redwood, Lac Qui Parle, and Yellow Medicine Counties. In Wisconsin, Barron, Polk, Rusk, Chippewa, Dunn, and Eau Claire Counties. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 8 AM CDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. && $$ MNZ059>063-066>070-074>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ023-024-026-061000- /O.NEW.KMPX.FR.Y.0003.260506T0700Z-260506T1300Z/ Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott- Dakota-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth- Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-St. Croix-Pierce-Pepin- Including the cities of Hastings, River Falls, St Paul, Hudson, Minneapolis, Monticello, Blue Earth, St Peter, St James, Fairmont, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Albert Lea, New Ulm, Stillwater, Victoria, Mankato, Waseca, Blaine, Gaylord, Hutchinson, Le Sueur, Faribault, Durand, Owatonna, and Red Wing 1253 PM CDT Tue May 5 2026 ...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM CDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures as low as 32 will result in areas of frost formation. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central, and southeast Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 8 AM CDT Wednesday. * 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. && $$ BPH
2 follow-up statements
224 WWUS73 KMPX 052343 NPWMPX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 643 PM CDT Tue May 5 2026 MNZ041>045-047>058-064-065-073-WIZ014>016-025-027-028-061300- /O.CON.KMPX.FZ.W.0004.260506T0700Z-260506T1300Z/ Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns- Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa- Kandiyohi-Meeker-Yellow Medicine-Renville-Redwood-Polk-Barron- Rusk-Dunn-Chippewa-Eau Claire- Including the cities of Osceola, Eau Claire, Olivia, Long Prairie, Redwood Falls, Menomonie, Little Falls, Princeton, Litchfield, Madison, Ladysmith, Elk River, St Cloud, Cambridge, Glenwood, Alexandria, Mora, Montevideo, Morris, Rice Lake, Benson, Willmar, Sauk Rapids, Chippewa Falls, Center City, and Granite Falls 643 PM CDT Tue May 5 2026 ...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM CDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, southwest, and west central Minnesota and northwest and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 8 AM CDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. && $$ MNZ059>063-066>070-074>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ023-024-026-061300- /O.CON.KMPX.FR.Y.0003.260506T0700Z-260506T1300Z/ Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott- Dakota-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth- Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-St. Croix-Pierce-Pepin- Including the cities of New Ulm, Hutchinson, Hastings, Durand, Stillwater, Blaine, Waseca, St Paul, Gaylord, Mankato, Chanhassen, River Falls, Fairmont, Hudson, Albert Lea, Monticello, Victoria, Minneapolis, St Peter, Blue Earth, Chaska, Red Wing, St James, Faribault, Owatonna, Shakopee, and Le Sueur 643 PM CDT Tue May 5 2026 ...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM CDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures as low as 32 will result in areas of frost formation. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central, and southeast Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 8 AM CDT Wednesday. * 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. && $$ JPC
439 WWUS73 KMPX 061242 NPWMPX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 742 AM CDT Wed May 6 2026 MNZ041>045-047>058-064-065-073-WIZ014>016-025-027-028-061345- /O.EXP.KMPX.FZ.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260506T1300Z/ Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns- Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa- Kandiyohi-Meeker-Yellow Medicine-Renville-Redwood-Polk-Barron- Rusk-Dunn-Chippewa-Eau Claire- Including the cities of Alexandria, Rice Lake, Redwood Falls, Osceola, Ladysmith, Olivia, Long Prairie, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Benson, Morris, St Cloud, Willmar, Menomonie, Montevideo, Elk River, Center City, Little Falls, Glenwood, Cambridge, Madison, Princeton, Granite Falls, Sauk Rapids, Litchfield, and Mora 742 AM CDT Wed May 6 2026 ...FREEZE WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 AM CDT THIS MORNING... Overnight cloud cover limiting cooling overnight and temperatures have risen into the mid 30s this morning. The warning will be allowed to expire at the top of the hour. $$ MNZ059>063-066>070-074>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ023-024-026-061345- /O.EXP.KMPX.FR.Y.0003.000000T0000Z-260506T1300Z/ Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott- Dakota-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth- Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-St. Croix-Pierce-Pepin- Including the cities of Waseca, Shakopee, Owatonna, Fairmont, Hudson, Faribault, New Ulm, St Peter, Gaylord, Hastings, Albert Lea, Le Sueur, River Falls, Red Wing, Blue Earth, Chanhassen, Minneapolis, Chaska, St James, Blaine, St Paul, Monticello, Hutchinson, Durand, Mankato, Victoria, and Stillwater 742 AM CDT Wed May 6 2026 ...FROST ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 8 AM CDT THIS MORNING... Temperatures will continue to rise this morning. $$ BED
The office that day
Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 12:53 PM CDT | Frost Advisory | MPX | Anoka, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Dakota, Faribault and 16 more | 19 hr |
Nearby
Freeze Warnings in Minnesota, 2026Freeze Warnings in Wisconsin, 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.