Frost/Freeze — Grand Flat and Arches, Utah

2025-04-01 to 2025-04-02 · Grand Flat and Arches, Utah

Event narrative

The minimum temperature recorded at the KCNY ASOS at Canyonlands Airport, about 10 miles north of Moab, UT, was 21F, which was also the lowest temperature recorded at any of the sensors available in the zone. A total of 17 out of the 18 available sensors recorded temperatures at or below 32F for at least 3 hours, with an average duration of 6 hours, a maximum of 12 hours and a minimum of 2 hours. The average duration of temperatures at or below 28F was only 2.5 hours, which does not qualify this event as a hard freeze, however some locations saw up to 9 hours of temperatures at or below 28F. No reports of crop damages or losses were received.

Wider weather episode

In the wake of a strong spring storm that pushed a potent cold front through the area, clear skies and calm winds allowed temperatures to drop below freezing across much of eastern Utah. This cold air stuck around for a few days, with good radiational cooling conditions allowing for several nights with below normal temperatures, particularly across southeast Utah. With several periods of much above normal temperatures punctuated by near-normal temperatures, the growing season in the area was well underway. Therefore a widespread freeze at this time of the year could have a detrimental effect on fruit crops and other agriculture in the area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1257593. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.