Frost/Freeze in Colorado

Events

611

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

$69 million

• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, April 13 to 14, 2020$30 million · 2 eventsArctic air continued to be advected into western Colorado in the wake of a departing Pacific trough. Clear skies paired with cold mid-level temperatures and light winds led to subfreezing temperatures across portions of west-central Colorado.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, November 10 to 14, 2014$10 million · 14 eventsAn Arctic cold front associated with a strong storm system over the northern Rockies blasted into northeastern Colorado. The temperature in Denver plummeted from the high of 64 degrees at 4:37 pm on the 10th to 34 degrees by 5:53 pm.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, April 12, 1997$9.0 million · 2 eventsThis was the last of several nights where temperatures dropped below critical levels for most fruit varieties in western Colorado. The majority of stone fruits were destroyed, while most apples and pears survived.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, April 4, 2003$9.0 million · 2 eventsA second cold snap hit the west central valleys of western Colorado early in the growing season. Reported minimum temperatures ranged from the upper teens to mid 20s. Between this event and the previous freeze in late March of 2003, the apricots were nearly a total loss.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, April 29, 1996$6.8 million · 1 eventFreeze damage to commercial fruit resulted in considerable losses, with the majority of damage in Delta county.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, April 19, 1996$3.7 million · 1 eventFreeze damage to commercial fruit resulted in considerable losses, primarily in the Palisade area.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, June 13, 2017$23,000 · 4 eventsA strong low pressure system brought unseasonably cold air to portions of western Colorado, including freezing temperatures in some lower elevation areas.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, April 1, 2005$25,000 · 1 eventAfter the start of the growing season, an unseasonably cold airmass resulted in a hard freeze across the Grand Valley. Minimum temperatures ranged from 18 to 30 degrees. The dollar loss for the orchards is an estimate based on anticipated yields.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, April 19, 2007$20,000 · 3 eventsA strong cold front ushered in unseasonably cold air resulting in freezing temperatures across some of the central and southern lower valleys of western Colorado.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, September 16 to 17, 200612 eventsAn early season freeze occurred as minimum temperatures ranged from 20 to 32 degrees.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, September 17 to 18, 200612 eventsA cold airmass settled over the area resulting in an early season freeze. Minimum temperatures generally ranged from the 20s to 32 degrees. There were some locally colder spots in the high valleys where temperatures dropped into the middle teens.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, September 21 to 22, 20098 eventsA strong cold front moved into the region and brought much colder air across the area. This, combined with decreasing winds overnight, allowed minimum temperatures to drop below freezing for many of the valleys across western Colorado.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, September 27 to 28, 20138 eventsClearing skies after a cold front caused much of the area to drop below freezing overnight.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, October 14 to 15, 20218 eventsSkies cleared in the wake of a secondary Pacific trough which led to subfreezing temperatures in several valleys where vegetation was sensitive to damage. Some areas saw a season-ending freeze with this event.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, September 14, 20037 eventsA cold air mass settled over western Colorado resulting in widespread freezing temperatures across many of the valleys. Automated and cooperative observer reports indicated minimum temperatures ranging from the mid 20s to 32 degrees.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, October 25 to 26, 20107 eventsClearing skies moved over Eastern Utah and Western Colorado behind a cold frontal passage which resulted in unseasonably cool temperatures spreading across many lower river valleys.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, October 6 to 7, 20127 eventsA cold front dropped down from the north causing freezing temperatures overnight in many agricultural areas in western Colorado, and essentially ending the growing season for those areas.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, October 14 to 15, 20187 eventsClear skies and light winds behind a strong cold front brought a season ending freeze to many valleys in west-central and southwest Colorado.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, May 22, 20207 eventsClearing skies in the wake of a departing Pacific trough led to subfreezing temperatures across portions of western Colorado.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, May 20 to 21, 20207 eventsClear skies ahead of an approaching Pacific trough led to subfreezing temperatures across portions of western Colorado.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, April 14, 20076 eventsA cold spring-time airmass brought freezing temperatures to the central and southern lower valleys where the growing season had an early start.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, September 25, 20076 eventsA vigorous autumn weather system ushered in the coldest air of the season so far.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, October 6 to 7, 20076 eventsFreezing temperatures impacted much of the lower valleys of western Colorado for the first time of the autumn season.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, June 7 to 8, 20076 eventsAn unseasonably cold airmass settled over western Colorado and resulted in a late spring freeze across many lower elevation areas.
• Frost and Freeze in Colorado, April 10 to 11, 20076 eventsA cool spring airmass resulted in freezing temperatures across lower valleys of west central and southwest Colorado where the growing season started early.

Frost/Freeze everywhereEvery kind of event in Colorado

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.