STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. – A sharp drop in temperatures across the Yampa Valley early Sunday morning is ending the fall growing season, with readings plunging into the low 20s before sunrise. The National Weather Service in Grand Junction said a Freeze Warning remains in effect until 9 a.m. MDT for the Central and Upper Yampa River Basins, including Craig, Hayden, Meeker, and Steamboat Springs.
According to the Weather Service, clear skies, dry air, and light winds combined overnight to allow rapid cooling across northwest Colorado. Many valley locations dipped below freezing before 2 a.m., with frost reported on rooftops, vehicles, and grassy areas. Officials warned that unprotected garden plants and outdoor plumbing could sustain damage, urging residents to wrap pipes, drain hoses, and bring tender vegetation indoors.
Colorado State University Extension agents said the freeze marks the official close of the 2025 growing season for much of Routt and Moffat counties. Livestock operators are advised to ensure water tanks remain unfrozen during the next few nights as cold air lingers in sheltered valleys.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will moderate slightly this afternoon under mostly sunny skies, reaching the upper 40s to near 50 degrees. A gradual warming trend returns early in the week, but more frosty mornings are expected through midweek.
