Frost/Freeze — Eastern Uinta Basin, Utah

2025-04-18 to 2025-04-19 · Eastern Uinta Basin, Utah

Event narrative

The minimum temperature recorded at the KVEL ASOS at Vernal Airport was 21F, while the minimum recorded at any of the available 22 sensors was 18F. All of the 22 available sensors recorded temperatures at or below 32F for at least 3 hours, with an average duration of 10.5 hours, a maximum of 16 hours and a minimum of 5 hours. Additionally, temperatures were recorded at or below 28F for an average of 6.5 hours, with a maximum of 11 hours and a minimum of 1 hour. Therefore this event qualifies as a hard freeze as well. No reports of crop losses or damages 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 1257613. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.