Colorado and Wyoming residents pulled out snow shovels Tuesday as a late-season storm swept over the Rocky Mountains and into the High Plains, dropping heavy, wet snow north of Denver and into southeastern Wyoming, according to the Associated Press. The storm began when conditions shifted from mostly rain to snow by early evening in the Denver area, while Fort Collins saw heavy snowfall throughout the day on ground that was still considered too warm for significant accumulation. Slushy snow collected on leaves, grass and flowers, and some homeowners shut off yard sprinklers to avoid plumbing damage as temperatures fell below freezing.
In Boulder, which sits near the mountains, the heaviest impacts were forecast to continue as the day progressed. The Associated Press reported that forecasts called for upward of a foot (30 centimeters) of snow in the area, with up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) possible into Wednesday. National Weather Service officials said the heaviest snow was expected to persist into Wednesday morning as temperatures plunged overnight.
The storm also triggered operational changes across the region. Denver Public Schools and other major districts and colleges canceled Wednesday classes due to severe weather, as the National Weather Service warned that temperatures would fall and accumulation would increase. National Weather Service meteorologist Kenley Bonner said accumulated snow could snap tree branches and knock out power, adding that utilities were preparing for possible disruptions.
Utilities and transportation planners prepared as the storm approached its most intense period. The Associated Press said Xcel Energy put 165 employees on standby across the state. Highways stayed open Tuesday, but Interstate 80 in southern Wyoming—where a high-elevation stretch between Cheyenne and Laramie often closes—was open with webcams showing heavy snowfall, and other northern Colorado mountain highways also showed deteriorating conditions.
While the forecast brought unusual May weather, officials and meteorologists said the timing was not entirely out of pattern for the Front Range. The Associated Press reported that Denver typically sees its last snowfall around April 28, though May storms do occur, including a half-inch (1.2 centimeters) snowfall on May 21, 2022, and much heavier totals in earlier years such as the 1893 storm. It also reported that May snowfall of more than 10 inches (25 centimeters) has occurred at least five times in Denver’s history, with the biggest in 1893 dropping 15.5 inches (39.3 centimeters).
Even with forecasts of winter conditions, some events continued with adjustments. The Associated Press said thousands attended the David Guetta show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, but organizers moved the start time up by an hour in hopes of getting fans home before the worst of the storm. Concertgoers bundled up in winter clothing as they lined to enter the outdoor venue.
The storm landed during an ongoing drought in the West, but the Associated Press reported that it was unlikely to eliminate broader water challenges. It cited April conditions in Denver as warmer than usual and short on precipitation, with Denver missing an inch of rain and 2.8 inches of snow compared with normal in April. For some farmers, the snow offered a short-term boost for growing conditions—Adam Jones, who runs Unsung Family Farms in Longmont, said he planted carrot seeds days earlier to take advantage of precipitation and noted that snow or water could help seed starting, though he said he had to move more sensitive crops indoors with heaters.
Officials said that even with recent precipitation gains, drought outlooks remained mostly bleak heading into summer. The Associated Press reported that a report from the National Drought Mitigation Center said recent precipitation helped boost topsoil moisture and reduced irrigation demands but had not changed a “mostly bleak” water outlook. It also noted that wildfire conditions persist during dry spells, with firefighters in the West increasingly using technology, including artificial intelligence, to detect small fires early.
The unsettled weather was not limited to the Rockies and High Plains. The Associated Press reported that thunderstorms were expected from northeast Texas into western Tennessee, with Arkansas facing the greatest risk of large hail, damaging winds and possible tornadoes, according to the Storm Prediction Center. It also reported that isolated strong storms could reach parts of the Northeast.