Alert archive / Minnesota / Frost Advisories in 2026
Frost Advisory 1, NWS Twin Cities, MN
NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this frost advisory at Apr 29, 2026, 1:01 PM CDT for 14 counties in Minnesota; 4 counties in Wisconsin. It took effect at Apr 30, 2026, 2:00 AM CDT. It was in force for 6 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 29, 2026, 1:01 PM CDT (18:01 UTC)
- In effect from
- Apr 30, 2026, 2:00 AM CDT
- Expired
- Apr 30, 2026, 8:00 AM CDT
- In force
- 6 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Twin Cities, MN
Counties Anoka County, MN, Brown County, MN, Carver County, MN, Dakota County, MN, Goodhue County, MN, Hennepin County, MN, Le Sueur County, MN, Nicollet County, MN, Ramsey County, MN, Redwood County, MN, Rice County, MN, Scott County, MN, Sibley County, MN, Washington County, MN, Dunn County, WI, Eau Claire County, WI, Pepin County, WI, Pierce County, WI
The radar
The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 30 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:02 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, 6.0 hours before the alert went out and 32 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
- 1521 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 33 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -70 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -76 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
002 WWUS73 KMPX 291801 NPWMPX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 101 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 MNZ051>054-056>059-064>066-WIZ014>016-023-027-300615- /O.NEW.KMPX.FZ.W.0001.260430T0700Z-260430T1300Z/ Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Meeker- Wright-Yellow Medicine-Renville-McLeod-Polk-Barron-Rusk-St. Croix- Chippewa- Including the cities of Olivia, Hutchinson, Willmar, Madison, Montevideo, Monticello, Rice Lake, Litchfield, Ladysmith, Osceola, Cambridge, Hudson, Center City, Elk River, Chippewa Falls, and Granite Falls 101 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, and west central Minnesota and northwest and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 8 AM CDT Thursday. * 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. && $$ MNZ060>063-067>070-073>078-WIZ024>026-028-300615- /O.NEW.KMPX.FR.Y.0001.260430T0700Z-260430T1300Z/ Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Redwood- Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Eau Claire- Including the cities of Chanhassen, Menomonie, Durand, Hastings, New Ulm, Blaine, Red Wing, St Peter, Le Sueur, Chaska, River Falls, St Paul, Victoria, Eau Claire, Minneapolis, Gaylord, Faribault, Stillwater, Shakopee, and Redwood Falls 101 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures as low as 32 will result in frost formation. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central, southeast, and southwest Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 8 AM CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. && $$ Borghoff
2 follow-up statements
408 WWUS73 KMPX 300250 NPWMPX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 950 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 MNZ051>054-056>059-064>066-WIZ014>016-023-027-301300- /O.CON.KMPX.FZ.W.0001.260430T0700Z-260430T1300Z/ Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Meeker- Wright-Yellow Medicine-Renville-McLeod-Polk-Barron-Rusk-St. Croix- Chippewa- Including the cities of Center City, Litchfield, Hutchinson, Monticello, Hudson, Madison, Montevideo, Willmar, Osceola, Granite Falls, Elk River, Rice Lake, Ladysmith, Chippewa Falls, Olivia, and Cambridge 950 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, and west central Minnesota and northwest and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 8 AM CDT Thursday. * 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. && $$ MNZ060>063-067>070-073>078-WIZ024>026-028-301300- /O.CON.KMPX.FR.Y.0001.260430T0700Z-260430T1300Z/ Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Redwood- Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Eau Claire- Including the cities of St Paul, Eau Claire, Stillwater, Red Wing, Gaylord, Blaine, Minneapolis, Shakopee, Chaska, St Peter, River Falls, Durand, Chanhassen, Menomonie, Hastings, New Ulm, Le Sueur, Redwood Falls, Faribault, and Victoria 950 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures as low as 32 will result in frost formation. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central, southeast, and southwest Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 8 AM CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. && $$ DPH
140 WWUS73 KMPX 300831 NPWMPX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 331 AM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026 MNZ051>054-056>059-064>066-WIZ014>016-023-027-301300- /O.CON.KMPX.FZ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260430T1300Z/ Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Meeker- Wright-Yellow Medicine-Renville-McLeod-Polk-Barron-Rusk-St. Croix- Chippewa- Including the cities of Cambridge, Rice Lake, Hutchinson, Osceola, Ladysmith, Montevideo, Willmar, Monticello, Center City, Olivia, Hudson, Litchfield, Chippewa Falls, Madison, Granite Falls, and Elk River 331 AM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026 ...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM CDT THIS MORNING... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, and west central Minnesota and northwest and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...Until 8 AM CDT 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. && $$ MNZ060>063-067>070-073>078-WIZ024>026-028-301300- /O.CON.KMPX.FR.Y.0001.000000T0000Z-260430T1300Z/ Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Redwood- Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Eau Claire- Including the cities of Victoria, River Falls, Faribault, St Peter, Durand, Red Wing, Eau Claire, Le Sueur, Blaine, Chanhassen, St Paul, Minneapolis, Hastings, Gaylord, Redwood Falls, Stillwater, Shakopee, Menomonie, New Ulm, and Chaska 331 AM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026 ...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM CDT THIS MORNING... * WHAT...Temperatures as low as 33 will result in frost formation. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central, southeast, and southwest Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...Until 8 AM CDT this morning. * IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. && $$ MPG
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this frost advisory went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this frost advisory went out at Apr 29, 12:20 PM CDT, 41 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Best chance for widespread frosts and freezes this week comes Thursday night and Friday night
- Other than some occasional showers, rain chances for the next week will be small.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 29, 12:20 PM CDT, 41 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1220 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Best chance for widespread frosts and freezes this week comes Thursday night and Friday night - Other than some occasional showers, rain chances for the next week will be small. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 245 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 This morning we find ourselves within the cyclonic flow of an expansive h5 low over northwest Ontario. This upper low will be in quite the battle with a Greenland block over the next 7 days. As a result, we'll see the upper low drift into eastern Canada this weekend, only to see it come back next week as it gets pushed back west by the blocking high near Greenland. For today through Friday, we'll remain within the h5 lows cyclonic flow. We'll see numerous weak shortwaves in this pattern. For the most part, these waves will just result in cloud cover, though some occasional sprinkles or light rain showers can't be ruled out the next couple of days, but there will be nothing that would upend any outdoor plans. The main issue to watch this week will be overnight lows. The amount of cloud cover will determine how much of frost threat we'll have in particular, but a weak pressure gradient and light winds will lead to both Friday and Saturday mornings have the greatest potential for ideal radiational cooling conditions and lows getting down to near or below freezing. Again, there's nothing unusual about seeing lows around freezing at the end of April, but when the vegetation has decided to wake up a couple of weeks early, we will have the potential for some impactful low temperatures to end the week. For the weekend, we get out of the cyclonic flow. This will allow temperatures to moderate back closer to normal, but it does not bring an end to nuisance rain chances. We will see continued shortwave activity dropping down in the NW flow. Our first shortwave of significance will come down Saturday night, with another for Sunday night. Both won't have much moisture to work with, but there should be enough with the forcing to scare up some light rain showers Saturday night and Sunday night. Again, nothing to derail your outdoor plans, with rather pleasant weather expected this weekend. Next week, the main question revolves around how the h5 low evolves. The Canadian and Euro continue to be pretty aggressive with dropping the low into the Great Lakes by the middle of next week, which would result in another surge of cold air and a renewed threat for freezes. Besides the cold air, it would also keep the potential for the occasional light rain going. As for when we may see a more substantial pattern shift, it still looks like we're waiting until the second week of May before we warm up and also see the potential for more substantial rain chances return. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1219 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 VFR with scattered to broken mid-level cigs continuing to move across all TAF sites this afternoon. Breezy NW'ly wind gusts around 20kts will ease up around sunset and becoming light overnight. There is a non-zero chance for a few isolated sprinkles this afternoon but chances were too low to include in any TAFs. Should sprinkles manage to fall, would likely be nearest to MKT and RWF. KMSP...No additional concerns. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ FRI...VFR. Wind NNW 5-10 kts. SAT...VFR. Wind WNW 5-10 kts. SUN...VFR. Chc -SHRA late. Wind W 5-10 kts. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...None. WI...None. && DISCUSSION...MPG AVIATION...Dunleavy
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 29, 3:35 AM CDT, 9 hours 26 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 335 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 300845- Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns- Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa- Kandiyohi-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington- Yellow Medicine-Renville-McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota- Redwood-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth- Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-Polk-Barron-Rusk- St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Eau Claire- 335 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and southern Minnesota, and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Overnight lows falling into the low to mid 30s tonight will lead to frost concerns for sensitive vegetation. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Overnight lows will fall into the upper 20s to mid 30s through Saturday morning, which will lead to frost and freeze concerns for sensitive vegetation. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN spotter activation will not be needed.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1:01 PM CDT | Freeze Warning | MPX | Chippewa, Chisago, Isanti, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, McLeod and 5 more | 19 hr |
Nearby
Frost Advisories in Minnesota, 2026Frost Advisories in Wisconsin, 2026Every frost advisory 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.