Where, when and how much snow to expect with the late-season winter storm

The storm that we’ve all been ready for is right here. It made itself identified initially by making a wall of mud that was picked up by the extreme winds transporting the chilly air from the north.

🌬️ Are you able to inform when the chilly entrance handed?

Numerous mud, dust and pollen have been simply flown about. #HereWeGo #Denver #COwx pic.twitter.com/0Uq8Gucxra

— ❄️ Rain or ☀️ Shine I’m Andy Stein (@AndySteinWx) May 20, 2022

Snow is already falling throughout among the increased terrains above 7,000’ this morning and it’ll proceed to snow there all day lengthy. Snow ranges will progressively decrease via Friday with all snow falling in and across the Denver metro by the night commute.

This storm goes to pack a critical punch. We have now an ideal recipe of climate circumstances establishing that can ship the Entrance Vary with certainly one of its greatest Might snowstorms in current reminiscence. We did squeeze out 3.9 inches of snow in Might of 2019 however this storm might ship extra snow than that.

The chilly entrance that barreled via is producing upslope winds which creates moisture.. We already may have sufficient moisture within the environment so the upslope with solely assist in creating extra moisture. On high of this, actually, the jet stream might be roaring and attributable to our placement beneath that jet, much more enhancement of moisture will happen. Persevering with with the right recipe is the truth that we’ll be seeing bands of enhanced snowfall charges that would actually permit snow to stack up shortly.

In fact, we’re in late Might and the solar angle will hinder snow totals initially, however among the heaviest snow might fall after the solar goes down Friday evening. Highway temperatures are extraordinarily heat due to the close to 90-degree warmth we had on Thursday so snow must overcome that as nicely. However with the marketed snowfall charges anticipated, it received’t take lengthy for roads to change into slushy and ultimately snow packed.

Regardless, a really sturdy winter storm has begun to impression the world and can proceed to take action via Saturday afternoon no less than.

The Nationwide Climate Service in Boulder has issued winter storm warnings for this accumulating snow for powerful journey via Saturday afternoon and since there’s anticipated to be numerous injury to timber from this heavy, moist snow. It takes 3 to 4 inches of moist snow to interrupt tree limbs. Any greater than that has the potential to deliver down totally leafed timber. Consequently, we might see energy outages, particularly in areas above 6,500 toes the place the heaviest snow will fall.

Right here’s a take a look at the present forecast for snow totals.