National Weather ServiceExtreme Cold WatchVTEC EC.A, WC.AArchive to October 1, 2026
Extreme Cold Watch: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 78 extreme cold watches in 2025 and 27 a year on average in 2008-2025; Texas, Nebraska and Kansas got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 115, 434% above the average of 22 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is an extreme cold watch?
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. AreaZine's counts include the wind chill watches issued before the change.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many extreme cold watches a year?
National count: each extreme cold watch 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) | 115 |
| 2025 | 78 |
| 2024 | 33 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2022 | 74 |
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2019 | 31 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2015 | 46 |
| 2014 | 63 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2008 | 26 |
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 watches?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A extreme cold watch covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 8 | 2 | 15 |
| Nebraska | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| Kansas | 5 | 2 | 8 |
| Minnesota | 4 | 2 | 10 |
| Colorado | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Iowa | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| West Virginia | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Alaska | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| New York | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Virginia | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Idaho | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Missouri | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Ohio | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Maine | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| South Dakota | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| New Mexico | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| North Carolina | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Wyoming | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Indiana | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Montana | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Arkansas | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| North Dakota | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Georgia | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Mississippi | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vermont | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Washington | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Alabama | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Louisiana | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Florida | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| South Carolina | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Maryland | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Connecticut | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Utah | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona | 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 Watch or extreme cold warning?
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 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. The NWS issued 165 extreme cold warnings in 2025, against 78 extreme cold watches. The extreme cold warning record.