Late spring snowstorm closes Colorado schools, disrupts flights and roads

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A late spring snowstorm that closed schools and snarled flights eased across parts of Colorado on Wednesday, leaving slick roads and prompting officials to warn residents about hazards from heavy, snow-loaded trees. The storm swept over the Rocky Mountains and into the High Plains after arriving earlier, and it was winding down Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather system delivered some of its heaviest totals at higher elevations. The National Weather Service said several towns at those elevations received about 2 feet of snow, while a winter storm warning remained in place. The agency said that another 2 to 4 inches of snow was expected for Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver and Castle Rock.

Even as the storm began to ease, officials focused on immediate safety concerns for drivers and pedestrians. Commuters in Denver reported slick conditions, and a few crashes were reported by the Colorado State Patrol, though there was no word of serious injuries. Forecasters also warned that snow-loaded tree limbs could snap, and the weather service’s Denver office posted guidance to “Avoid parking under trees.”

In an AP interview, National Weather Service forecaster Dave Barjenbruch said the snow had impacted power lines in the region. The weather service also said parts of the region could continue to see light snow and rain on Thursday, but that temperatures would trend warmer.

As the storm unfolded, communities and events adapted to the unusual timing of the snowfall. The storm did not stop thousands of people from attending an outdoor David Guetta concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Tuesday night, but organizers moved the start time up by an hour. Organizers and fans bundled up for the chilly conditions before the weather shifted.

Denver Public Schools, the state’s largest K-12 district, canceled Wednesday classes along with other districts across Colorado’s Front Range. Denver’s international airport recorded 5.8 inches of snow after early flight delays and cancellations, the weather service said, and temperatures dropped into the low 30s Fahrenheit on Wednesday morning. Those conditions prompted Denver to activate its cold-weather shelter plan, with warmer weather expected Thursday.

In higher-elevation communities, residents continued digging out as totals varied by location. The town of Estes Park, near Rocky Mountain National Park, saw between 22 inches and more than 30 inches of snow, according to the weather service. Estes Park resident Kathy Ross said enough snow fell in her yard to clear the head of her Boston terrier mix, and she spent Wednesday morning shoveling sidewalks outside the used bookstore she manages.

Other Front Range neighborhoods reported similarly wintery impacts. In Boulder, some areas saw about a foot of snow, and officials warned about downed trees and branches. On Denver’s west side, neighborhood parents and children gathered at Nettie Moore Playground, a popular sledding spot; Fern Garstka, 8, joined after shoveling earlier in the day, while Andy Flinn said the wet, heavy snow was less ideal for sledding but that his sons were happy to get a few runs after an exceptionally dry winter.

The storm also brought moisture that some residents had been waiting for amid ongoing drought conditions. The AP reported that April was warmer and drier than usual, with Denver missing an inch of rain and 2.8 inches of snow. For at least some farmers, the timing created an opportunity to use the precipitation; Adam Jones of Unsung Family Farms in Longmont told KMGH-TV that he planted carrot seeds just days earlier and took advantage of the snowfall.

Jones said he moved more delicate crops inside and used a heater to keep them warm. Beyond Colorado, the unsettled pattern stretched into the Southeast, where severe thunderstorms were possible on Wednesday, including storms that could produce tornadoes, with the strongest activity expected from Arkansas through Georgia.