Frost/Freeze — San Juan River Basin, Colorado

2024-10-21 to 2024-10-22 · San Juan River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

With 4 of the 7 reporting sites available for verification recording temperatures at or below 32F for at least 3 hours, at least 50% of the zone experienced freezing temperatures. Only 1 of the 7 sites experienced temperatures at or below 28F for at least 3 hours, meaning this freeze was not season-ending. The minimum recorded temperature was 25F, while the minimum recorded at a CDOT mesonet station was 28F. Temperatures ranged from 25F to 32F. Temperatures at or below 32F lasted for on average 4.5 hours, with a maximum of 10 hours and a minimum of 0 hours. Temperatures at or below 28F lasted for on average 1.5 hours, with a maximum of 4 hours and a minimum of 0.

Wider weather episode

As skies gradually began to clear in the wake of an upper level low, and the atmosphere began to dry out, conditions were favorable for temperatures to drop below freezing in many locations across eastern Utah and western Colorado. Northern and central Colorado in particular were favored to see freezes. Lingering moisture and cloud cover in the vicinity did limit how cold temperatures could get, however, with this being a freeze but not a season ending one.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1220475. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.