Cold/Wind Chill, Denver Metropolitan Area
- When
- December 18, 6:00 PM MST to December 24, 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Denver Metropolitan Area forecast zone
- Deaths
- 3 direct, 0 indirect
- Injuries
- 15 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 39.714, -104.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
An Arctic airmass settled in over northeastern Colorado dropping overnight temperatures well below zero for 6 consecutive days. Overnight temperatures bottomed out at 19 degrees below zero on the morning of the 22nd. At least 15 people, mostly homeless, were treated for hypothermia at area hospitals. The bitter cold weather was responsible, either directly or indirectly, for at least 5 fatalities. Three of the victims died directly from exposure. The cold weather also caused intermittent power outages. Following the cold snap, thawing water pipes cracked and burst in several homes and business causing extensive damage. No estimate of the damage, however, was available.