Update: Freeze watch in place for El Paso County and Kiowa County for Tuesday – temperatures as low as 28

Published May 18, 2026

An updated freeze watch was issued by the National Weather Service on Monday at 11:11 a.m. valid for Tuesday between midnight and 8 a.m. for Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range below 7,500 ft, Colorado Springs Vicinity/Southern El Paso County/Rampart Range below 7,400 ft, Western Kiowa County and Eastern Kiowa County.

The NWS informs, “Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 degrees possible.”

“Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” adds the NWS. “Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”

Freeze watch or warning – this is what it means

Freeze warnings are issued from May to October (but can be extended if necessary), when low temperatures are expected to be 29-32 degrees. If there is a potential for temperatures to fall into these thresholds, a freeze watch may be issued a few days ahead of time.

According to the NWS, if a freeze warning or watch is issued for your area, there is little you can do to protect plants. If you can move your sensitive plants inside, do so because the freeze will likely kill them, depending on the severity of conditions.

Source: The National Weather Service