Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in San Juan River Basin, Colorado

The KPSO AWOS in Pagosa Springs recorded an approximately 1.5 hour period where temperatures were below 25F and wind chill values were below 15F. Winds were at or above 10 mph, gusting or sustained, for about 45 minutes, while the remainder of the period saw weaker winds that still produced sufficiently cold wind chill values. Temperatures ranged from 18F to 25F and winds ranged from 6 mph to 26 mph. The coldest wind chill value recorded was 5F. 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.