Frost/Freeze — Animas River Basin, Colorado

2025-10-27 to 2025-10-28 · Animas River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

With twelve 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 22F, while the lowest recorded at the KDRO ASOS in Durango was 25F. Minimum temperatures ranged from 22F to 32F. Temperatures at or below 32F lasted for on average 3 hours, with a maximum of 6 hours and a minimum of 0. Temperatures at or below 28F lasted for on average 1 hour, with a maximum of 4 hours and a minimum of 0.

Wider weather episode

A cold front descended through eastern Utah and western Colorado in the late afternoon and evening of the 27th. By nighttime, northwesterly flow had established itself behind the frontal boundary, dropping temperatures to below freezing. One Colorado zone experienced a season-ending freeze during this pattern.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1297313. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.