Colorado Mountains Hit with Late Snowstorms

What's the impact of two snowstorms hitting the Colorado mountains at the end of April on our local roads and ski resorts? The short version — two snowstorms are expected to bring substantial snowfall to the Colorado mountains from April 26-27 and April 30-May 1. Make no mistake, this will affect our commute — the National Weather Service forecasts chances of snow every day from Saturday until Friday, May 1. Traffic impacts are expected, with chain and traction laws likely to be in effect for mountain passes. The Colorado State Patrol advises travelers to prepare for these conditions, citing a recent 70-plus vehicle pile-up crash on Interstate 70 caused by a spring snowstorm.

For locals, the snowfall will be a welcome sight, especially for skiers and snowboarders, Breckenridge Ski Resort is reopening for one last day on April 25, joining Loveland Ski Area, Copper Mountain Resort, and Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. Each resort has events planned to celebrate the end of the ski season, but it's worth watching how the snowstorms will affect these events. OpenSnow founder and lead meteorologist Joel Gratz predicts the storms will bring "substantial accumulations" and cool temperatures through the end of April. The 10-day outlook from OpenSnow calls for 17 inches of snow at Arapahoe Basin and 13 inches for Copper Mountain during this storm cycle.

However, these snowstorms will not erase the drought conditions that have plagued the state; Gratz describes it as "a small step in the right direction." The snow-rain line will be around 8,000-9,000 feet elevation, meaning rain for high-elevation areas like resorts but a rain-snow mix or just rain in the valleys. A majority of Summit County is above 9,000 feet, which will impact the type of precipitation they receive.

Read that again - the snowfall will not be enough to alleviate the drought, but it will provide some relief. The National Weather Service has not issued a winter advisory as of Friday afternoon, but it's likely that one will be issued soon. For weather updates, locals can visit Weather.gov/bou or OpenSnow.com. For travel alerts and road conditions, visit CoTrip.org. For chain and traction law information, visit CSP.Colorado.gov/chain-law-information.

The storm's impact on our local economy is also worth considering. the additional snowfall may attract more visitors to the area, but it may also cause disruptions to daily life. As the storms approach, folks around here should prepare for potential power outages and property damage. The community should also be aware of the risks associated with traveling during snowy conditions and take necessary precautions. The Colorado State Patrol advises travelers to prepare for these conditions, citing a recent 70-plus vehicle pile-up crash on Interstate 70 caused by a spring snowstorm.