Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Upper Gunnison River Valley, Colorado

2025-01-18 · Upper Gunnison River Valley, Colorado

Event narrative

The KGUC AWOS in Gunnison recorded an approximately 10 hour period with temperatures below 25F and wind chill values below 15F. About half the period saw winds at or above 10 mph, gusting or sustained. That said, winds weaker than 10 mph were still capable of producing sufficiently cold wind chill values to warrant inclusion. Temperatures ranged from 5F to 19F and winds ranged from 6 mph to 24 mph. The coldest wind chill value recorded was -9F. 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 1237143. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.