- A powerful late spring snowstorm buried parts of Colorado, dropping up to 30 inches of snow in some mountain towns.
- Denver Public Schools canceled classes, flights were delayed, and roads turned dangerously slick across the Front Range.
- Despite the chaos, locals found ways to make the most of it — from sledding hills to outdoor concerts in the snow.
- Relief is coming: temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-70s by the weekend.
DENVER, Colorado — Most Coloradans had already packed away their winter gear. Then May showed up like it didn’t get the memo.
A late spring snowstorm swept through the Rocky Mountains and slammed into the High Plains this week, catching communities off guard and bringing life to a halt across much of the state.
Schools closed. Flights were canceled. Roads turned slushy and dangerous — and forecasters say a few more inches are still on the way.
How Much Snow Actually Fell?
The numbers are hard to ignore.
The town of Estes Park, near Rocky Mountain National Park, received between 22 and 30 inches of snow. Denver’s international airport recorded 5.8 inches. Boulder saw up to a foot in some spots.
A winter storm warning remained active Wednesday, with an additional 2 to 4 inches expected in Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, and Castle Rock, according to the National Weather Service.
Estes Park resident Kathy Ross said the snow in her yard was deep enough to swallow her Boston terrier mix up to the head.
“The view of the mountains is just spectacular,” she said, “as long as you like the color white.”
Roads, Flights, and Schools — All Disrupted
The storm hit commuters hard.
Slick roads across Denver led to several crashes reported by the Colorado State Patrol, though no serious injuries were confirmed. The National Weather Service warned residents to avoid parking under trees, as snow-loaded branches were snapping under the weight.
Denver’s airport dealt with early flight delays and cancellations as conditions deteriorated overnight.
Denver Public Schools — the largest K-12 district in the state — canceled Wednesday classes. Dozens of other districts along the Front Range followed. Families scrambled to find mittens and snow boots they thought they wouldn’t need again until next winter.
Temperatures dropped into the low 30s Fahrenheit Wednesday morning, prompting the city of Denver to activate its cold-weather shelter plan.
Kids Hit the Sledding Hills, Concert Fans Braved the Cold
Not everyone was upset about the snow day.
At Nettie Moore Playground on Denver’s west side — a popular local sledding spot — neighborhood families packed the hill. Eight-year-old Fern Garstka made it out after being put to work first.
“My parents made me go outside and shake the snow off the trees,” she said.
Father Andy Flinn called the wet, heavy snow “less than ideal” for sledding, but watched his two young sons enjoy every run.
“Every little bit helps. Whether it’s snow or rain, we’ll take it,” he said.
Even an outdoor David Guetta concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre went on Tuesday night. Organizers moved the start time up by an hour, and fans showed up bundled in winter coats and beanies — because apparently nothing stops a Colorado crowd.
The Colorado Rockies weren’t as lucky. Two home games against the New York Mets were postponed — though spring postponements are almost a tradition in Denver, happening four times in 2015 alone.
Farmers Welcome What Others Cursed
For some, the storm was not a disaster — it was a lifeline.
April had been warmer and drier than usual, with Denver missing roughly an inch of rain and nearly 3 inches of snow for the month. Colorado’s ongoing drought has put real pressure on farmers across the region.
Adam Jones of Unsung Family Farms in Longmont had planted carrot seeds just days before the storm, timing it deliberately to catch the moisture.
“You can’t get as even distribution with driplines or sprinklers,” he told KMGH-TV. “There’s nothing like starting seeds with snow or water.”
He moved more sensitive crops inside and used a heater to protect them through the freeze.
When Will It Warm Up?
The storm is winding down, and warmer air is on the way.
The National Weather Service says temperatures in Denver could reach the mid-70s Fahrenheit by the weekend — a swing of more than 40 degrees in just a few days.
Light snow and rain may linger into Thursday, but forecasters say the worst is over for most of the Front Range.
Snow in May is not unusual for Colorado — and it’s even more common in Cheyenne, Wyoming, which sits nearly 1,000 feet higher than Denver and regularly sees late-season snowfall pile into drifts.
Still, this storm was one of Denver’s biggest of the entire season — arriving just when everyone thought winter was done.
Were you caught off guard by the storm, or did you make the most of the snow day? Share what it looked like in your neighborhood in the comments — we want to hear from you.
