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

The KSBS AWOS in Steamboat Springs reported a 7 hour period where wind chills were below 15F. Temperatures during this period were below 25F, although winds were not consistently above 10 mph. That said, wind chills were sufficiently cold enough to warrant being counted. Temperatures ranged from 13F to 25F, while wind speeds ranged from 6 mph to 21 mph. The coldest wind chill recorded during this period was 4F. No reports of injuries, damages, 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.