Boulder gets rare May snow boost
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A downed branch in the snow off of Mohawk Drive in Boulder. Photo: Mitchell Byars/Axios Boulder
Boulder County got nearly a foot of badly needed snow Wednesday, as a late spring storm swept through the Front Range.
Why it matters: The timing couldn't be better for a region that's been craving moisture.
Driving the news: Boulder recorded 11 inches of snow from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, making it the city's third-largest May snowstorm on record, according to Boulder Cast. Only two May storms have brought more snow to Boulder: 23 inches in 1978 and 12.3 inches in 2013.
Caveat: About 14 inches of the 1978 snowstorm fell on May 6, so this week's storm did not break Boulder's daily May 6 snowfall record.
- Plus, this snow was especially wet, delivering more than 1.5 inches of liquid, per Boulder Cast.
Zoom out: The heaviest snowfall hit the foothills just west of Nederland and Ward, where some areas topped 2 feet.
- Longmont and eastern Boulder County generally saw 5–7 inches.
Between the lines: The storm gave the Front Range's snowpack a late-season lift after months of dry weather.
- 9News meteorologist Chris Bianchi said the snowfall pushed snowpack levels just above historic lows.
- He added it could help the state avoid its earliest melt-off on record.
Yes, but: The heavy, wet snow brought damage, too.
- With leaves already coming in and trees stressed by the dry winter, branches came down across Boulder.
- Xcel Energy reported more than 8,000 Boulder County customers without power on Wednesday morning.
The intrigue: Bianchi said that due to lower-than-expected snowfall rates during the cold overnight hours, road conditions Wednesday were better than expected.
- While there is a freeze warning in place, Bianchi predicted downsloping winds will keep Boulder from experiencing a deep freeze overnight Wednesday.
What's next: The National Weather Service forecast calls for partly sunny skies with highs in the 60s Thursday.
- Boulder's shoveling deadline is 11:35am — 24 hours after the last recorded snowfall, per city policy.
- Tree and branch removal information is available on the city's website.