Alert archive / Minnesota / Frost Advisories in 2026

Frost Advisory 1, NWS Twin Cities, MN

April 29, 202614 counties in Minnesota; 4 counties in Wisconsin

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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2026-04-29Temperature 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2026-04-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -70 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 29, 1:01 PM CDTFreeze WarningMPXChippewa, Chisago, Isanti, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, McLeod and 5 more19 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.