A late-season storm could drop up to 9 inches of heavy, wet snow across the Denver metro area Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing travel hazards and tree damage but also much-needed moisture after months of meager moisture.
Forecasters are expecting about 3 to 6 inches of snow, with higher amounts in higher elevation areas on the western and southern sides of the metro area, said Russell Danielson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder.
“The technical drought category for all the Denver metro area is extreme drought, which is the second worst,” Danielson said. “So this will certainly help with that and we’re thankful for this moisture.”
The biggest travel impact will be Wednesday morning, Danielson said, after temperatures drop Tuesday night and wet, slushy snow remains on the roads. Driving conditions are expected to improve Wednesday as temperatures rise.
The northern Front Range mountains, where drought conditions are among the worst, will see the heaviest amounts of snow, Danielson said. In and around Rocky Mountain National Park, the storm could bring more than 2 feet of snow, while other areas could see around 10 inches.
A winter weather advisory is in effect for southern parts of Colorado as rain, though could turn into a wintry mix of snow and rain, is expected in lower elevations west of Interstate 25, according to NWS forecasters in Pueblo.
As Colorado locals know, snow in May isn’t unusual. And after a historically low snowpack year, the storm is a welcome boost for many.
“We actually have had accumulated snow in May in more years than not in the 21st century here in Denver,” Danielson said.
But the benefits come with risks: The heavy, wet snow could weigh down leafed-out trees, increasing the likelihood of snapped branches across the metro area. There could also be widespread power outages in the foothills, including Boulder and Fort Collins, according to 9News meteorologist Chris Bianchi.
Gardeners beware, temperatures are expected to drop well below freezing, into the 20s Wednesday night.
“It should be a hard freeze, perhaps with snow on the ground Wednesday night,” Danielson said. “If they have any plants and stuff they want to protect, then today would be a good time to do that.”