Freeze watch: what it means and what to do
“A Freeze Watch is issued when there is a potential for significant, widespread freezing temperatures within the next 24-36 hours. A Freeze Watch is issued in the autumn until the end of the growing season and in the spring at the start of the growing season.”
weather.gov →Freeze Watches in effect right now
No Freeze Watches in effect right now, 1 Frost Advisory.
States: California
- Frost Advisory until Nov 3, 2026, 12:00 PM ETNorthwestern Interior Mendocino; Northeastern Interior Mendocino; Northern Lake
National Weather Service data, updated Nov 2, 2026, 9:46 PM ET. Not an official warning: follow your local NWS office. All US alerts →
What to do now
- Insulate pipes in basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages and along exterior walls, and keep garage doors closed if supply lines run there.
- In very cold weather, open cabinet doors under sinks and let cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes.
- If you leave home in cold weather, keep the heat on and set it no lower than 55°F.
- To thaw a frozen pipe, keep the faucet open and apply heat with a hair dryer or heating pad. Never use an open flame.
From our frozen pipes guide, which links every source.
Watch, warning or advisory?
Each in the National Weather Service's own words.
Freeze Watch
“A Freeze Watch is issued when there is a potential for significant, widespread freezing temperatures within the next 24-36 hours. A Freeze Watch is issued in the autumn until the end of the growing season and in the spring at the start of the growing season.”
Freeze Warning
“A Freeze Warning is issued when temperatures are forecasted to go below 32°F for a long period of time. This temperature threshold kills some types of commercial crops and residential plants, while temperatures below 28°F for an extended period of time can kill most types of commercial crops and residential plants.”
Frost Advisory
“A Frost Advisory means areas of frost are expected or occurring, posing a threat to sensitive vegetation.”
NWS aims freeze alerts at plants and crops, and issues them in the growing season. At home, freezing nights are when exposed pipes such as outdoor hose bibs can freeze: the Red Cross says to drain and store outdoor hoses and close the inside valves to hose bibs, and our frozen pipes guide covers the rest. In October 2024 NWS folded the Hard Freeze Watch into the Freeze Watch.
Get ready before the next one
Also: How to winterize your home
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