Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Debeque To Silt Corridor, Colorado

2025-01-23 · Debeque To Silt Corridor, Colorado

Event narrative

The KRIL ASOS in Rifle recorded a three hour period where temperatures were below 25F and wind speeds were sufficient to produce wind chills colder than 15F. While wind speeds did not hit the 10 mph threshold, the wind chills produced were sufficiently cold to warrant recording. Temperatures ranged from 14F to 21F, and wind speeds ranged from 6 mph to 8 mph. The coldest wind chill value recorded was 2F. 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 1235281. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.