Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in Lower Yampa River Basin, Colorado

The K4V0 AWOS in Rangely, CO recorded a 17 hour period where temperatures were at or below 25F and winds were 10 mph or greater, producing wind chill values of 15F or colder. There were also some periods where winds did not meet the 10 mph criteria, but wind chill values produced were at or below the 15F threshold. The coldest ambient air temperature recorded was 2F, with a range of 2F to 19F. The maximum wind recorded was a gust to 32 mph, with a range of 7 - 32 mph. The coldest wind chill value recorded during this period was -19F. No reports of injuries, damage, or fatalities were received.

A cold front ushered in an arctic airmass on the evening of January 17th, as well as bringing widespread wind and snow to eastern Utah and western Colorado. This arctic airmass was reinforced over the course of the next week by several passing waves with their own associated cold fronts. Temperatures during this period were 15-20 degrees below normal, and in some places close to 30 degrees below normal. With temperatures this cold, any amount of wind would produce a dangerously cold wind chill. The coldest period of this event was January 20th to the 22nd, with temperatures finally beginning to moderate after the 23rd.