Freeze Warnings and Watches issued across parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, and Tennessee
Freeze Warnings and Watches have been issued for parts of eight southern U.S. states as sub-freezing temperatures are forecast from March 16 into March 17, 2026. Temperatures could fall as low as −12°C (10°F) in the coldest parts of Arkansas, while many other areas are expected to bottom out in the −7 to −2°C (19 to 28°F) range. Frost, freeze conditions, and gusty post-frontal winds may damage sensitive vegetation and, in the coldest areas, affect exposed outdoor plumbing.
Image credit: Harris County
A strong cold front moving across the South is pulling much colder air into the region, prompting Freeze Warnings and Watches across parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Gusty northwest winds behind the front are expected to reinforce the cold surge as temperatures fall below freezing from Monday, March 16, into Tuesday, March 17.
Freeze Warnings and Watches have been issued for parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas as a cold air mass spreads across the southern U.S. early this week.
Many Freeze Warnings will take effect early on March 16, while Freeze Watches and later Freeze Warnings extend from the night of March 16 into the morning of March 17, depending on location.
Wind Advisories have also been issued across much of the region, with sustained winds of approximately 25–50 km/h (15–30 mph) and gusts reaching 65–80 km/h (40–50 mph). These gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects, break tree limbs, and cause isolated power outages.
Arkansas
A Freeze Warning will be in effect from 01:00 to 10:00 local time (LT) on March 16, covering central, eastern, north-central, western, and southern portions of the state. Temperatures are forecast to drop as low as −12°C (10°F), bringing widespread freeze conditions capable of damaging crops, sensitive vegetation, and exposed plumbing.
A Wind Advisory is also in effect from 07:00 LT on March 15 through 07:00 LT on March 16. Winds are forecast to reach 25–50 km/h (15–30 mph) with gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph), which could result in downed tree limbs and scattered power outages.
Freeze Warnings have also been issued for southern and southwestern Arkansas, and will remain in effect from 00:00 to 09:00 LT on March 16. These warnings include Sevier, Howard, Little River, Hempstead, Nevada, Miller, Lafayette, Columbia, and Union counties. Overnight temperatures are forecast to fall to around −2°C (28°F), creating frost and freeze conditions capable of damaging vegetation.
Mississippi
Freeze Warnings have been issued across northern Mississippi from 04:00 to 12:00 LT on March 16. The warning covers the following counties: DeSoto, Marshall, Benton, Tippah, Alcorn, Tishomingo, Tunica, Tate, Prentiss, Coahoma, Quitman, Panola, Lafayette, Union, Pontotoc, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha, and Calhoun. Temperatures are forecast to fall to approximately −3°C (27°F) during the warning period.
Meanwhile, a Freeze Watch remains in effect from the evening of March 16 through the morning of March 17, with forecasters warning that temperatures may drop as low as −7°C (19°F) across parts of the region. These conditions could result in significant frost formation and damage to crops and other sensitive vegetation.
Further south, the NWS office in Jackson has issued a Freeze Watch covering central and southeastern Mississippi from the evening of March 16 into the morning of March 17. Cities including Jackson, Meridian, Natchez, Brookhaven, Vicksburg, Laurel, and Hattiesburg could see temperatures between −7°C and −4°C (20–24°F).
Missouri and Tennessee
A Freeze Warning has been issued for southeastern Missouri and western Tennessee from 04:00 to 12:00 LT on March 16.
The warning covers Dunklin and Pemiscot counties in Missouri and a broad section of western Tennessee, including Memphis, Dyersburg, Jackson, Union City, Paris, and Savannah. Temperatures in these areas are forecast to fall to around −3°C (27°F) during the early morning on March 16.
A Freeze Watch is also in effect from the evening of March 16 through the morning of March 17 as cold air spreads across the Mid-South. Overnight temperatures may fall to −7°C (19°F), increasing the risk of widespread frost and freeze damage to vegetation and agricultural interests.
Alabama
A Freeze Warning will go into effect from 22:00 LT on March 16 through 10:00 LT on March 17 for much of central Alabama. Areas including Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Auburn, Selma, and Anniston are forecast to see temperatures dropping around −4°C (24°F).
A Wind Advisory is also in effect from 13:00 LT on March 15 through 13:00 LT on March 16, with southwest winds of 15–30 km/h (10–20 mph) and gusts up to 65 km/h (40 mph).
Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas
The NWS office in Shreveport has issued a Freeze Warning from 00:00 to 09:00 LT on March 16 for portions of northeast Texas, southeast Oklahoma, and adjacent parts of southwest Arkansas and northern Louisiana.
Communities including Texarkana, Mount Pleasant, Clarksville, Idabel, Broken Bow, Magnolia, and surrounding areas are expected to see temperatures drop to around −2°C (28°F). Frost and freeze conditions may damage early-season vegetation and unprotected plants.
A Wind Advisory remains in effect from 07:00 LT on March 15 through 19:00 LT on March 16 across the same region. Northwest winds of 30–50 km/h (20–30 mph) with gusts up to 70 km/h (45 mph) are expected as colder air spreads across the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley.
Residents across affected regions are advised to take precautions to protect sensitive vegetation and exposed plumbing before temperatures fall below freezing. Strong winds may also create hazardous driving conditions, particularly for high-profile vehicles.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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