Frost/Freeze — Animas River Basin, Colorado

2025-10-29 · Animas River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

Sixteen of the eighteen reporting stations available for verification recording temperatures at or below 32F for at least 3 hours, and thirteen of those eighteen recorded temperatures at or below 28F for at least three hours. This means that at least 50% of the zone experienced a season-ending freeze event. The lowest temperature recorded was 20F, while the lowest recorded at the KDRO ASOS in Durango was 25F. Minimum temperatures ranged from 20F to 32F. Temperatures at or below 32F lasted for on average 8 hours, with a maximum of 11 hours and a minimum of 0. Temperatures at or below 28F lasted for on average 5 hours, with a maximum of 10 hours and a minimum of 0.

Wider weather episode

A dry mass moved over the western CONUS on the 28th. Resulting clear skies promoted efficient radiational cooling and freezes over much of the region. One zone experienced a season-ending freeze under this regime.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1297316. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.