Race Day Live (Salt Lake City, UT) – The recent influx of frigid air into Utah has made the past few days exceptionally chilly. However, one spot in Utah experienced temperatures lower than the majority.
Peter Sinks, a natural sinkhole situated just 20 miles northeast of Logan, registered a chilling temperature of minus 55 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday night, reinforcing its status as one of the coldest spots in the contiguous United States.
What accounts for the significantly lower temperatures at Peter Sinks compared to the rest of the Beehive State?
The Utah Climate Center at Utah State University attributes the low temperatures in Peter Sinks to a distinctive mix of local factors.
A stunning natural limestone sinkhole is located at an impressive elevation of 8,164 feet. The area features distinctive basin topography and experiences a dry climate, lacking any valley outlet for drainage of water or air.
“On calm cloudless nights, this basin loses accumulated daytime heat to the atmosphere,” the Utah Climate Center explained. “In addition, cool dense air slides down-slope into the basin floor in a process known as cold air pooling. Extremely low temperatures can occur, especially in the wake of wintertime arctic fronts.”
Also Read – Former West Virginia Delegate Convicted in Jan. 6 Riot Pardoned by Trump Amid Controversy!
This week’s chilling temperature of negative-55 degrees at Peter Sinks remains well above the record low ever documented at the sinkhole. In February 1985, temperatures dropped dramatically to minus 69.3 degrees Fahrenheit, marking it as the second-coldest temperature ever documented in the contiguous United States. The record low temperature reached 69.7 degrees Fahrenheit at Roger’s Pass, Montana in 1954.
+ There are no comments
Add yours