Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin, Colorado

The KMTJ ASOS in Montrose recorded an approximately 2.5 hour period where temperatures were below 25F, wind chill values were below 15F, and winds were, for the most part, at or above 10 mph, either gusting or sustained. Even the periods where winds were weaker than 10 mph, or inconsistent, the wind chill values produced were sufficiently cold to warrant inclusion. Temperatures ranged rom 19F to 25F and winds ranged from 6 mph to 26 mph. The coldest wind chill value recorded was 8F. 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.