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

The KGUC AWOS in Gunnison recorded an approximately 1 hour period where temperatures were below 25F and wind chill values were below 15F. Wind chill values during this period were below 10 mph, however they produced wind chill values sufficiently cold enough to warrant inclusion. Temperatures ranged from -24F to -20F, and winds ranged from 6 mph to 7 mph. The coldest wind chill value recorded was -40F. 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.