May Snowstorm Buries Boulder in 10 Inches of Snow Making it Colorado's Heaviest of the Season

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Storm Setup Follows Snowless Winter

A potent system combined a cold northern trough with moisture from a California low, fueling deep upslope flow across northern Colorado. The storm arrived late Tuesday and peaked overnight, with rates reaching 1 to 2 inches per hour in some spots.[3] Temperatures hovered in the low 30s, ensuring heavy, wet snow rather than fluffy powder.

This event stood out amid Colorado’s unusually warm and dry winter. Ski resorts closed weeks early, and snowpack hit record lows, leaving reservoirs strained and wildfire risks elevated. State climatologist Russ Schumacher called it "finally the type of storm we’ve been waiting for for six months."[1]

Snowfall Breaks Local Benchmarks

Boulder measured 10.7 inches by Wednesday morning, its third-largest May total and the heaviest since 2013.[1] Foothills above 7,500 feet saw 10 to 20 inches, with isolated spots exceeding 2 feet. Higher elevations in Rocky Mountain National Park logged up to 28 inches, and forecasts pointed to 30 inches on peaks.[2]

Denver International Airport recorded nearly 5 inches, while the metro area awaited 3 to 6 inches overall. National Weather Service meteorologist Kenley Bonner observed, "This storm has the potential to be the biggest storm of the year, but we won’t know until it’s over."[1] The event already surpassed Denver’s prior seasonal high of 8.5 inches from March.

Historical May storms in Denver provide context:

May 25-26, 1950: 10.7 inches
May 15-16, 1957: 8.8 inches
May 17, 1983: 7.1 inches
May 9-10, 2003: 7 inches
May 29, 1975: 5.6 inches

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Heavy Snow Triggers Disruptions

The wet snow clung to fully leafed branches, snapping limbs and sparking power outages for 50,000 homes and businesses. Schools across the Front Range canceled or delayed classes Wednesday, and highways turned treacherous with slick conditions.[1] Xcel Energy deployed extra crews in anticipation.

Tree damage emerged as a primary concern, echoing major May events in 2019 and 2022 that left over 100,000 without power. Nighttime accumulation worsened the strain, as daytime sun failed to melt the load quickly. Travel advisories urged caution on mountain passes like Loveland, where several inches piled up.

Flights at Denver International faced delays, and local roads required plowing despite the late date. Though impacts remained scattered, the storm’s intensity caught residents off guard after a mild weekend in the 70s.

Drought Relief Arrives, But Challenges Linger

Meteorologist Russell Danielson of the National Weather Service in Boulder highlighted the storm’s value: "In terms of the liquid content, this will certainly be one of the bigger storms this year." It delivered 1 to 2 inches of liquid equivalent in Boulder County, boosting parched snowpack from record lows.[2]

While not a full drought buster—60 percent of the state remains in extreme or exceptional drought—the moisture aids reservoirs and tempers fire risks. Arapahoe Basin extended operations through the weekend, offering skiers a rare late-season bonus with limited lifts running.[1]

As the snow tapered by midday Wednesday, a hard freeze loomed overnight, preserving accumulations. Colorado’s volatile weather once again reminded residents that winter yields ground slowly in the Rockies. Forecasters eyed minor flurries ahead, but the focus shifted to cleanup and assessing long-term water gains from this unexpected May bounty.

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