Frost/Freeze — Upper Yampa River Basin, Colorado

2025-10-17 · Upper Yampa River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

With eight of the twelve reporting stations available for verification recording temperatures at or below 32F for at least 3 hours, at least 50% of the zone experienced a freeze. Only one of the twelve stations recorded temperatures at or below 28F for at least 3 hours, so this was not a season ending freeze for the zone. The lowest temperature recorded was 25F, while the lowest recorded at the KSBS AWOS in Steamboat Springs was 32F. Minimum temperatures ranged from 25F to 32F. Temperatures at or below 32F lasted for on average 4.5 hours, with a maximum of 11 hours and a minimum of 0. Temperatures at or below 28F lasted for on average less than 1 hour, with a maximum of 3 hours and a minimum of 0.

Wider weather episode

Dry air over southwestern Colorado led to clear skies. Overnight, a trough moved through the region, and the associated cold front dropped temperatures to below freezing for much of the area. Under this pattern, three zones experienced a season ending freeze.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1297298. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.