May Snowstorm Delivers Colorado's Heaviest Blow Yet After Parched Winter

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Storm Powers Through Rockies and Front Range

The snowstorm struck early on May 5 and lingered into May 6, delivering heavy, wet accumulation from the high peaks down to foothill communities. Temperatures plunged overnight, turning rain into snow across the Denver metro area and intensifying flakes in the mountains. National Weather Service offices issued winter storm warnings, highlighting risks from the dense snowfall.

Boulder recorded 10.7 inches at its Weather Service station, while surrounding spots saw even more.[1] Higher elevations fared far worse, with totals pushing well beyond two feet in places. The following locations reported standout accumulations by midday May 6:

Longs Peak: 33.8 inches[2]
Estes Park: 31 inches[2]
Cameron Pass and Pingree Park: 31.2 inches each[2]
Denver International Airport: 5.8 inches[2]

Snowpack Gets Critical Boost

Colorado endured a historic snow drought through the cold months, leaving reservoirs low and ski areas shuttered early. Resorts like Snowmass closed April 17, and Loveland followed on April 26, as warm conditions melted what little base remained. This May event provided the most substantial replenishment yet.

State climatologist Russ Schumacher called it "the type of storm we’ve been waiting for for six months."[1] Though insufficient to erase the deficits entirely—snowpack hovered near record lows—the fresh layer could temper wildfire risks in the weeks ahead, especially if followed by steady rains. Melting will accelerate under upcoming warmer days and longer sunlight.

Widespread Disruptions Grip Communities

Travel ground to a halt in many areas, with highways slick and mountain passes treacherous despite round-the-clock plowing efforts. Schools canceled or delayed classes across the Front Range, stranding students and staff. Power outages left 50,000 homes and businesses in the dark at peak, as heavy limbs buckled under the wet load.[1]

Xcel Energy mobilized crews statewide, while accumulated snow threatened further tree damage. The Colorado Rockies postponed games against the New York Mets, and a David Guetta concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre shifted earlier to beat the worst weather. Meteorologist Kenley Bonner from the Boulder NWS office warned that "accumulated snow could snap tree branches and knock out power." She added that after the driest winter on record, "winter’s not going to come until spring, and it did exactly that."[3]

Denver has weathered big May storms before—five topped 10 inches historically, including a 15.5-inch monster in 1893. The last double-digit event came in 1950 with 10.7 inches. Bonner noted this one held promise as the season’s biggest overall, pending final tallies.[3]

Ski operations faced mixed fortunes. Arapahoe Basin pushed its closing from May 4 to May 11, capitalizing on north-facing terrain and snowmaking to offer limited advanced runs.

Wrapping Up with Lingering Chill

The storm tapered off by midday May 6, but a hard freeze loomed that night, with foothills exceeding two feet in isolated spots. A-Basin’s extension thrilled holdouts, though most resorts lacked the infrastructure to pivot back from summer prep.

This late gift underscores Colorado’s volatile climate, where May averages 1.4 inches of snow yet occasionally unleashes far more. As meltwaters trickle into streams, the focus shifts to sustained recovery from drought—a reminder that nature defies calendars.

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