Winter’s back in Aurora, closing schools and downing trees

AURORA | With May in full force in Aurora, it’s time to get out the snow shovels and rakes.

A late snowstorm swept into the Front Range yesterday so far bringing about 4 inches of wet, heavy snow to the Aurora metro area, the National Weather Service says.

Most schools are closed today.

Aurora city officials said snow plows were out overnight, nearly two dozen of them on the streets through Wednesday afternoon. As of 6 a.m., streets were mostly wet or slushy and icy only in spots.

National weather forecasters were predicting snow through this afternoon, with another 1-3 inches of additional accumulation.

Excel Energy was reporting sporadic power outages in Aurora with the bulk of them farther west into Denver and the western suburbs.

The city’s Cold Weather Activation Team are helping homeless people get transportation and shelter for today and tonight, as a cold snap moves in sending low temperatures Wednesday night into the 20s.

Adults needing shelter can go to the Aurora Regional Navigation Campus, 15500 E. 40th Ave., Aurora spokesperson Joe Rubino said in a statement. Families can find shelter at the Comitis Crisis Center, 2178 Victor St.

Aurora police say take it slower if you’re out and about in the weather in a car.

“For drivers, it’s imperative to slow down and be mindful of others around you,” Aurora police spokesperson Katie Fisher said in a statement. “Use turn signals, windshield wipers, and keep your headlights on. If you are able, stay home and stay indoors to avoid the conditions.”

The small mountain town of Jamestown, near Boulder, recorded 16.3 inches of snow as of early Wednesday, the weather service said. Estes Park, near Rocky Mountain National Park, reported 17 inches of snow as of Tuesday night.

City officials in Boulder, which got nearly 6 inches of snow as of the end of the day Tuesday, advised residents of downed trees and branches, encouraging them to avoid being under or close to those with heavy snow accumulation.

DThe Denver International Airport, which experienced some delays and cancellations early Wednesday, recorded 3.7 inches of snow by 2 a.m., the weather service said.

Delays and closures

• The Community College of Aurora will operate on a delayed start with remote operations only on Wednesday across all campus locations, including CentreTech, Lowry and Centennial. Remote operations will continue throughout the day. On-campus evening classes and campus operations will resume beginning at 6 p.m.

• APS and Pickens Technical College will be closed Wednesday. All APS day and evening events and activities have also been cancelled tomorrow.

• Cherry Creek schools will be closed Wednesday, including before and after school activities.

The ominous forecast did not deter thousands from attending the David Guetta show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Tuesday night, though organizers moved the start time up by an hour in hopes of getting fans home before the worst of the storm.

Concertgoers bundled up in furry winter coats and beanies while waiting in line to enter the outdoor venue.

The storm caused the Colorado Rockies to reschedule two games against the New York Mets. But that happens more often than not during Denver’s spring baseball season, including four times in 2015, according to MLB.

Big snow and a fast drop in temperature

The snow is expected to continue into Wednesday, followed by plunging temperatures and a widespread freeze overnight, the weather service said.

All that heavy, wet snow could snap tree branches and knock out power, Bonner said.

“An estimated 165 employees and crew members will be on standby across the state throughout the storm, to safely restore electric and natural gas service as quickly as possible,” Xcel Energy spokesperson Michelle Aguayo said in a statement.

Company officials offer these tips:

• Use space heaters carefully to prevent fires. Read all instructions and warning labels and verify that the heater is listed by a recognized testing laboratory. Avoid using heaters with cracked plugs or worn or damaged components. Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when leaving a room or going to sleep. 

• Stay away from downed or sagging power lines. Always assume an electric line, even one on the ground, is energized and dangerous.

• Keep a battery-powered flashlight handy in case the power unexpectedly goes out.

• Keep your cell phone charged.

• Make sure you have a manual can opener.

• Check out to ensure you first-aid kit is stocked.

If you have an outage, text OUT to 98936

Wait, snow in May?

The forecast is unusual, but not unheard of.

Denver typically sees its last snowfall around April 28, although May storms do happen. The “Mile High City” recorded half an inch of snow (1.2 centimeters) on May 21, 2022, while nearby Boulder got 4.5 inches (11.4 centimeters).

Historically, Denver has seen at least five May storms with snowfall over 10 inches (25 centimeters). The biggest, in 1893, dropped 15.5 inches (39.3 centimeters). The city’s most recent double-digit snow was May 25-26, 1950, with 10.7 inches (27 centimeters).

A light dusting on June 2, 1951, was the latest time in the year it snowed.

The storm is welcome during a drought, but not a fix

April was warmer than usual and short on precipitation, with Denver missing an inch of rain and 2.8 inches of snow last month compared to normal.

But one storm won’t solve the West’s water problems.

A report from the National Drought Mitigation Center said recent precipitation helped boost topsoil moisture and reduced irrigation demands, but hasn’t changed a “mostly bleak” water outlook heading into the summer.

Storms elsewhere, too

The unsettled weather isn’t limited to the Rockies.

Thunderstorms are expected from northeast Texas into western Tennessee, with Arkansas facing the greatest risk of large hail, damaging winds and possible tornadoes, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Isolated strong storms could also reach parts of the Northeast.