Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — West Elk and Sawatch Mountains, Colorado

2025-01-21 · West Elk and Sawatch Mountains, Colorado

Event narrative

Between the Taylor Park RAWS and the CDOT Mesonet station in Crested Butte, an approximately 7 hour period of temperatures below 25F and wind chill values less than 15F was recorded. Winds during this period were, for the most part, at or above 10 mph, gusting or sustained. That said, even winds weaker than 10 mph produced wind chill values cold enough to warrant being included. Temperatures ranged from 6F to 23F and winds ranged from 6 mph to 23 mph. The coldest wind chill value 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 1236864. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.