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

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

Event narrative

The KCAG ASOS at Craig-Moffat County Airport recorded a roughly 3 hour period where wind chill values were below 15F. Ambient temperatures during this period ranged from 9F to 12F, meeting the requirement of being equal to or less than 25F. However, winds ranged rom 6 to 8 mph, below the 10 mph threshold traditionally needed. That said, temperatures were sufficiently cold that even light winds produced cold wind chills, with the lowest wind chill value being -1F. 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 1233357. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.