Freeze warning in effect Monday night for Las Cruces

LAS CRUCES - The first "killing freeze" of the season will happen Monday night and Tuesday morning in Las Cruces.

A freeze warning is in effect from 9 p.m. Monday to 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The temperature in Las Cruces will drop down to 18 degrees — 14 degrees below the freezing point. Officials are encouraging residents to take extra steps to protect vulnerable people, pets (bring them indoors) and exposed pipes. Also, the impending freeze will kill plants, including many local crops.

"All locations across the region will see temperatures fall well below freezing," states a National Weather Service warning posted Monday morning. "This will be the first freeze for many lowland locations, and it will be a killing freeze of long duration."

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David DuBois, state climatologist for New Mexico, confirmed that the freeze will be the first this autumn for Las Cruces. 

The last time the temperature reached freezing or below at the New Mexico State University campus was March 2, said DuBois, who's based at NMSU.

The National Weather Service reports the extra chilly weather is due to a "winter blast of cold air out of Canada" that's ushered in with strong winds.

"Much cooler air will rapidly spread into the region with falling temperatures through the afternoon (Monday)," the agency's warning states. "Overnight conditions will be perfect for rapidly dropping temperatures."

The weather service encourages people to protect sensitive plants and exposed plumbing. Warm shelter should be provided to vulnerable people and to pets.

Use caution with indoor heating and allow for safe ventilation.