Frost/Freeze — Animas River Basin, Colorado

2025-04-18 to 2025-04-19 · Animas River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

The minimum temperature recorded at the KDRO ASOS at the Durango-La Plata County Airport was 30F, while the minimum recorded at any of the available 17 sensors was 28F. A total of 10 out of the available 17 sensors recorded at least 3 hours of temperatures at or below 32F, making this a freeze event. Temperatures were at or below 32F for an average of 8 hours, with a maximum of 18 hours and a minimum of 0 hours. Temperatures were at or below 28F for an average of less than 1 hour, with a maximum duration of 1 hour. Meaning that not even localized hard freeze conditions were likely experienced with this event. No reports of crop damages or losses were received.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1257612. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.