Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Central Yampa River Basin, Colorado

2025-01-18 to 2025-01-19 · Central Yampa River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

The KHDN AWOS at Yampa Valley Airport in Hayden, CO recorded a little over an hour of wind chill values well below the 15F threshold. Winds during this period were below 10 mph, ranging from 6-9 mph, meaning that it does not meet the traditional requirements. However, ambient air temperatures were below 0F during this period, ranging from -6F to -2F, meaning that even light winds could produce vey cold wind chills. The lowest wind chill recorded was -19F. No reports of injuries, damages, or fatalities were received.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1233355. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.