Frost/Freeze in Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin, Colorado

The minimum temperature recorded at the KMTJ ASOS at the Montrose Regional Airport was 28F, while the minimum temperature at any of the available 13 sensors was 27F. A total of 8 of the available 13 sensors recorded at least 3 hours at or below 32F, with an average duration of 4.5 hours. The maximum duration was 16 hours while the minimum was 0. Temperatures were at or below 28F for an average of 1 hour, disqualifying this event from being a hard freeze, however the maximum duration was 4 hours, so some locations likely saw localized hard freeze conditions. No reports of crop damages or losses were received.

By the middle of April, most lower elevation forecast zones had hit the 50 growing degree day thresholds, meaning that the growing season was well underway. Much of this was due to a period of above normal temperatures the week prior. However, a strong spring storm with a potent cold front moved through the area from the 17th to the 18th, bringing in much colder air. As skies cleared and winds dropped on the night of the 18th into the morning of the 19th, temperatures began to plummet across the region.