Frost/Freeze — Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin, Colorado

2024-10-30 to 2024-10-31 · Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

Ten of the eleven reporting sites available for verification recorded temperatures at or below 32F for at least 3 hours, with six of the eleven recording temperatures at or below 28F for at least 3 hours. This means that at least 50% of the zone experienced a season-ending freeze. The minimum temperature recorded was 23F, while the minimum at the KMTJ ASOS in Montrose was 28F. Minimums ranged from 23F to 32F. Temperatures at or below 32F last for on average 10 hours, with a maximum of 19 hours and a minimum of 0. Temperatures at or below 28F lasted for on average 4.5 hours, with a maximum of 11 hours and a minimum of 0.

Wider weather episode

Clearing skies and cold air advection in the wake a strong late fall storm brough sub-freezing temperatures to many lower valley locations on the night of October 30th into the 31st. This event brought a season ending freeze to several locations, while a few others squeaked through with just a general freeze event. The central valleys of eastern Utah and western Colorado were most affecting, being some of the last locations still to not have had a season-ending freeze.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1220481. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.