Denver metro School Closures Colorado as 3 to 6 inches forecast
School closures Colorado may follow a storm that is forecast to bring 3 to 6 inches of snow to the Denver metro area from Tuesday to Wednesday. Rain is expected through Tuesday in Denver before snow reaches the metro by the evening commute.
AccuWeather meteorologist Tony Laubach said, "This storm could rival the biggest storm of the season for Denver," as the system moves into a snow-starved region. Denver has received 27.5 inches of snow since early October, about 57% of its historical average, while Aspen has received 48 inches, less than 30% of its 164-inch seasonal average.
Denver metro and mountain totals
The Denver metro area is expected to get 3 to 6 inches, with 12 to 18 inches forecast in the Rockies just to the west. AccuWeather’s Local StormMax for that mountain zone is 36 inches. The storm’s wet, clinging snow could lead to significant power outages, while snowfall rates over some mountain passes could reach several inches per hour.
Dan DePodwin said, "If this storm brings more than 3.5 inches of snow to Denver in a single day, it would be the biggest one-day May snowstorm since 1983." Denver averages 1.2 inches of snow during the entire month of May, and the snowiest May on record in the city came in 1898 with 15.5 inches.
Travel on Tuesday night
Road conditions are expected to deteriorate Tuesday night, with slushy, snow-covered roads lasting into midday Wednesday before melting in the afternoon. The storm could temporarily close some mountain passes, and airline passengers should expect delays and possible cancellations, especially from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning.
Cheyenne, Wyoming, is forecast to receive 6 to 12 inches of snow from late Tuesday into Tuesday night, while the Palmer Divide is also forecast to get 6 to 12 inches. Colorado Springs is forecast to receive 3 to 6 inches, and Pueblo could see lighter, slushy accumulations from late Tuesday to early Wednesday.
Thursday thaw across Colorado
Temperatures are forecast to rebound into the 40s in the mountains and well into the 60s across the Denver metro area on Thursday. Rapid snowmelt and runoff are expected that day, after a storm that could provide needed moisture but also complicate travel across the Front Range.
For readers in the metro, the practical window is Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning, when conditions are expected to turn from rain to snow and then to the most difficult travel. Anyone flying, driving over passes, or planning late-day travel should expect the weather to set the pace.
