Frost/Freeze — Animas River Basin, Colorado

2025-10-17 · Animas River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

With sixteen of the eighteen 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 four of the eighteen 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 24F, while the lowest recorded at the KDRO ASOS in Durango was 28F. Minimum temperatures ranged from 24F to 32F. Temperatures at or below 32F lasted for on average 6 hours, with a maximum of 10 hours and a minimum of 0. Temperatures at or below 28F lasted for on average 1.5 hour, with a maximum of 5 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 1297302. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.