National Weather ServiceExtreme Cold WarningVTEC EC.W, WC.WArchive to October 1, 2026
Extreme Cold Warning: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 165 extreme cold warnings in 2025 and 91 a year on average in 2008-2025; Minnesota, Texas and Montana got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 144, 99% above the average of 72 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is an extreme cold warning?
An extreme cold warning means dangerously cold temperatures or wind chills that can cause frostbite and hypothermia quickly. It replaced the wind chill warning in 2024-2025. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property. AreaZine's counts include the wind chill warnings issued before the change.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many extreme cold warnings a year?
National count: each extreme cold warning counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 144 |
| 2025 | 165 |
| 2024 | 72 |
| 2023 | 43 |
| 2022 | 169 |
| 2021 | 103 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2019 | 120 |
| 2018 | 60 |
| 2017 | 67 |
| 2016 | 53 |
| 2015 | 118 |
| 2014 | 197 |
| 2013 | 81 |
| 2012 | 41 |
| 2011 | 80 |
| 2010 | 62 |
| 2009 | 68 |
| 2008 | 112 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
When in the year?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
Which states get the most extreme cold warnings?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A extreme cold warning covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 16 | 16 | 23 |
| Texas | 10 | 4 | 18 |
| Montana | 10 | 8 | 20 |
| North Dakota | 9 | 8 | 15 |
| Nebraska | 9 | 7 | 14 |
| Alaska | 9 | 7 | 7 |
| Iowa | 8 | 7 | 13 |
| South Dakota | 8 | 6 | 15 |
| Kansas | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Idaho | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| Wyoming | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| Colorado | 5 | 3 | 9 |
| New York | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| Missouri | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Illinois | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| New Mexico | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| West Virginia | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Utah | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Tennessee | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Alabama | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Maine | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Indiana | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Arkansas | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| North Carolina | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Michigan | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Virginia | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Washington | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Mississippi | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Ohio | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Vermont | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Florida | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Oregon | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Louisiana | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Maryland | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| California | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| District of Columbia | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
Extreme Cold Warning or extreme cold watch?
A extreme cold watch (for a wide area, hours or days ahead) means the conditions are possible: be ready; a extreme cold warning (from the local NWS office, for the area at risk) means the hazard is happening or imminent: act now. An extreme cold watch means dangerously cold temperatures or wind chills are possible in the coming days. It replaced the wind chill watch in 2024-2025. A watch means the conditions for the hazard are possible or favourable, but it is not yet happening: be ready to act if a warning follows. The NWS issued 78 extreme cold watches in 2025, against 165 extreme cold warnings. The extreme cold watch record.