Winter weather
Chicago's first freeze came 29 days late; Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh reach freezing tonight
By Ryan Hall, Y'all Weather Desk · Published · Updated
Written by our automated news desk from National Weather Service data.
What's new: Added tonight's Freeze Warnings across the Southeast and the verified Chicago first-freeze data
Key points
- Tonight: Lows of 31 to 32 in Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh.
- Warnings: Freeze Warnings are up for north and central Georgia, including Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, the Raleigh, Durham and Greensboro area, and parts of South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle.
- Chicago: O'Hare fell to 30 degrees early Saturday. Our 1991-2020 normal date for the first freeze there is Oct. 16.
- What it means: Tender plants and exposed outdoor plumbing need protection before dark.
A freeze arrives tonight into Sunday morning, Nov. 15, in Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh, with forecast lows of 31 to 32 degrees, and Freeze Warnings cover north and central Georgia and parts of the Carolinas, Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle. Chicago got its first freeze of the fall early today, Saturday, Nov. 14, when O'Hare dropped to 30 degrees, 29 days later than normal.
The Southeast freeze is the part with a plan attached, so read "What to do" if you garden or have pipes outside. The Chicago number comes from an early-morning airport reading, and the official climate report is still to come.
Chicago waited longer than almost any fall on record
The normal first freeze in Chicago comes around Oct. 16. This year it took until Nov. 14, a wait of 29 days past that date.
Our first-freeze tracker goes back to 1872. Of those 154 falls, only 6 went this deep into November without a freeze: 1881, 1902, 1918, 1922, 1931 and 2024. The latest on record is Nov. 24, 1931, so this fall is unusual but did not break that record.
The freeze moves into the Southeast tonight
Forecast lows are 32 in Atlanta, 31 in Charlotte and 32 in Raleigh. Frost is expected to be widespread around Atlanta.
Freeze Warnings are in effect tonight across north and central Georgia, including the Atlanta metro. They also cover central North Carolina, including Wake, Durham and Guilford counties, and parts of coastal North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle.
Charlotte has no Freeze Warning, but its forecast low is 31, so treat it like the rest.
How sure we are
The cold itself is a solid call. Every forecast low in the big three cities sits at or just under freezing, and the warnings are already posted. Atlanta and Raleigh are forecast at 32, while widespread frost is expected around Atlanta.
What to do
- Bring in or cover tender plants before dark tonight.
- Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor spigots. Drain irrigation lines if you have them.
- Bring pets inside overnight, and check outdoor animals' water.
- Plan for a cold, frosty start Sunday, especially around Atlanta.
- Check live warnings for your county, or sign up for free Y'all Alerts so you hear when a warning is issued.
Bottom line
Chicago's first freeze came 29 days late, and the cold now reaches the Southeast with lows of 31 to 32 in Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh overnight into Sunday. Protect plants and outdoor plumbing before dark.
| Value | Note | |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 32°F | Widespread frost |
| Charlotte | 31°F | No Freeze Warning |
| Raleigh | 32°F | Freeze Warning |
First freeze tracker: every big city's date
Explained: What a Freeze Warning means, and how it differs from a Frost Advisory
More on First freeze 2026
Places in this story: Chicago, IL; Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC; Raleigh, NC
Sources
- NWS point forecasts, National Weather Service
- NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS station records, NOAA Regional Climate Centers (ACIS)
- Iowa Environmental Mesonet observations, Iowa Environmental Mesonet (Iowa State University)