Weather news

Omaha and Kansas City get their first freeze Thursday, Nov. 12, weeks late

By Ryan Hall, Y'all Weather Desk · Published November 13, 2026, 6:16 AM ET · Updated November 13, 2026, 6:32 AM ET

Written by our automated news desk from National Weather Service data.

What's new: Added our newsroom graphics, a comparison table and links.

Omaha fell to 28°F on Thursday, Nov. 12, its first freeze of the fall and a hard freeze, and Kansas City dropped to 32°F the same day for its first. Omaha's freeze came 29 days later than normal and ranks as the third latest in 155 falls on record, while Kansas City's came 18 days late.

Both cities went well past the date when a first freeze usually shows up. For gardeners and anyone who left tender plants outside, the wait is over.

The short version

• Where: Omaha, Nebraska (Eppley Airfield) and Kansas City, Missouri (Kansas City International Airport).
• When: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026.
• What: Omaha's low was 28°F. Kansas City's low was 32°F.
• How late: Omaha's typical first freeze is Oct. 14, and Kansas City's is Oct. 25.
• What it means: Both cities have now recorded a low of 32°F or colder.

Omaha's hard freeze came within a day of the latest on record

Omaha's 28°F low counts as a hard freeze, which is 28°F or colder. It also arrived very late. The typical first freeze there is around Oct. 14, so this one ran 29 days behind.

In 155 falls on record, only two have had a later first freeze. The latest on record is Nov. 13, 1915, one day after this year's date. Last year Omaha got its first freeze on Nov. 1, 2025. The earliest ever was Sep. 18, 1901.

Kansas City just made it

Kansas City reached exactly 32°F, the threshold where a low counts as a freeze. It counts as a freeze, but not a hard freeze.

The typical first freeze at the airport is around Oct. 25, so this one was 18 days late. That ties for the 13th latest in 138 falls on record. The latest ever was Nov. 24, 1931, and the earliest was Sep. 22, 1995. Last year Kansas City also got its first freeze on Nov. 1.

How we count a first freeze

We count the first day since July 1 with a low of 32°F or colder at each city's official climate station. For Omaha that is Eppley Airfield, and for Kansas City it is Kansas City International Airport. A hard freeze is 28°F or colder.

Most big cities are still waiting

Omaha and Kansas City were not the only cities waiting this late. We track 58 big cities, and as of Thursday only 13 of them have had a first freeze this season. Many others are still waiting for their first low of 32°F or colder. We'll keep updating the numbers as more cities report in.

These values are preliminary until NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information reviews them. The "normal" dates come from our own calculation of the median first freeze from 1991 to 2020, not an official NOAA normal.

What to do

• Check your plants. Omaha reached the hard-freeze threshold of 28°F, while Kansas City reached the freeze threshold of 32°F. Bring in whatever is still alive.
• Winterize outdoor water. Disconnect and drain garden hoses and shut off outdoor spigots.
• Cover what you can't move. If you're trying to save late fall flowers or greens, cover them in the evening and uncover them in the morning.
• Start watching for winter. Check our winter storm outlook for what comes next, and sign up for free Y'all Alerts if you want a heads-up.

Bottom line

Omaha got its first freeze of the fall 29 days later than normal, with a hard-freeze low of 28°F on Thursday, Nov. 12. Kansas City also reached 32°F, 18 days late. The freeze-free stretch is over for both cities, so winterize your outdoor water lines.

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: Omaha, NE; Kansas City, MO

https://ryanhallyall.com/news/omaha-and-kansas-city-get-their-first-freeze-thursday-nov-12-weeks-late