DENVER – While some Americans are enjoying the arrival of spring, with blooming tulips and freshly mowed lawns, residents in Colorado and Wyoming are reaching for their snow shovels. A late-season snowstorm is making its way across the Rocky Mountains and High Plains, and it’s expected to bring significant snowfall to the Denver area starting Tuesday night.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm could deliver up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow in Denver, with higher elevations possibly seeing up to a foot (30 centimeters). This could result in Denver experiencing its biggest snowfall of the season.
Kenley Bonner, a meteorologist from the Denver office of the weather service, noted, “We just had our driest winter on record. We were kind of joking earlier in the season that winter’s not going to come until spring, and it did exactly that.”
Snow is expected to continue throughout Wednesday, followed by a steep drop in temperatures that could lead to widespread freezing overnight. Bonner warned that the heavy, wet snow could cause tree branches to snap and power outages. In preparation, Xcel Energy has placed 165 employees on standby across the state to handle any issues that may arise.
Is it really snowing in May? Yes, it is unusual, but not entirely unheard of. Typically, Denver sees its last snowfall around April 28, but May snowstorms do occur. For instance, in 2022, Denver recorded half an inch of snow (1.2 centimeters) on May 21, while nearby Boulder received 4.5 inches (11.4 centimeters).
Historically, Denver has experienced at least five May snowstorms with snowfall exceeding 10 inches (25 centimeters). The largest snowfall on record occurred in 1893, when 15.5 inches (39.3 centimeters) fell. The last significant double-digit snow in the city was on May 25-26, 1950, when 10.7 inches (27 centimeters) were recorded. Interestingly, the latest snowfall ever recorded was a light dusting on June 2, 1951.
While this storm is a welcome sight during a time of drought, it won’t completely resolve the West’s ongoing water challenges. April was warmer than usual and lacked precipitation, with Denver missing out on nearly an inch of rain (2.5 centimeters) and 2.8 inches of snow (7 centimeters) compared to normal.
According to a report from the National Drought Mitigation Center, while recent precipitation has improved topsoil moisture and reduced irrigation demands, it hasn’t changed the overall “mostly bleak” water outlook heading into summer.
The stormy weather isn’t limited to the Rockies. Thunderstorms are predicted from northeast Texas to western Tennessee, with Arkansas facing the highest risk of severe weather, including large hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes, as noted by the Storm Prediction Center. Isolated strong storms could also impact parts of the Northeast.
