Newest ‘snow storm’ for Colorado to bring moderate totals: Whiteout daily snow report, April 30

By Jonathan Ingraham April 30, 2024 | updated 1 year ago

Winter’s last stand comes in the form of moderate snow showers from Wednesday night to Friday.

Will skiers and riders at Colorado’s remaining open ski resorts get an early-May powder day?

Recap:

Some storm energy produced enough instability in the atmosphere over the Front Range mountains Monday to accumulate snow at Winter Park (1″). Highs were in the mid-40s with Winter Park recording a high of 45 according to Accuweather.

Forecast:

On Tuesday, temperatures around Colorado’s high country will bump up into the 50s, continuing the spring melt.

Colorado’s state-wide snowpack average on Tuesday is back above 85% to 87% after the latest snow event to close out April. Snow water equivalent is at 11.7 inches or 1.6 inches below the median of 13.3 inches.

Snow Water Equivalent April 30, 2024 — Colorado’s median snowpack is at 87% of average on April 30, 2024. The black line indicates the current year.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Colorado’s median snowpack is at 87% of average on April 30, 2024. The black line indicates the current year.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

On Wednesday day, temperatures will be in the 50s once again ahead of a disturbance drifting eastward across Wyoming.

Starting Wednesday night, this storm energy will push into northern and central Colorado, bringing moderate snow with it, mainly above 10,000 feet. The sagging low pressure system will carve into Utah before pushing its way into Colorado.

Wednesday, May 1 at 10 p.m., forecast model from Monday evening — A Weather.us forecast map from the ECMWF model shows the synoptic composite of wind speeds, atmospheric pressure and humidity levels of the air for 10 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, for the United States. The reds, yellows and oranges represent moister air and the greens, blues and purples represent less moist air.

Weather.us

A Weather.us forecast map from the ECMWF model shows the synoptic composite of wind speeds, atmospheric pressure and humidity levels of the air for 10 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, for the United States. The reds, yellows and oranges represent moister air and the greens, blues and purples represent less moist air.

Weather.us

Most weather models have the heaviest snow accumulations staying north of Interstate 70 and west of the Continental Divide, with totals by Thursday’s first chairs between 4-8 inches, with up to 12 inches around Rocky Mountain National Park, Cameron Pass and the Park Range.

Thursday, May 2 forecast model from Monday evening — A Weather.us forecast map from the ECMWF model shows the potential total accumulation levels of water-equivalent precipitation as of 10 a.m., Thursday, May 2, for Colorado. Depending on the density of the snow, one inch of water is equivalent to 10 inches of snow based on a common rule of thumb ratio of 10:1.

Weather.us

A Weather.us forecast map from the ECMWF model shows the potential total accumulation levels of water-equivalent precipitation as of 10 a.m., Thursday, May 2, for Colorado. Depending on the density of the snow, one inch of water is equivalent to 10 inches of snow based on a common rule of thumb ratio of 10:1.

Weather.us

Snow showers are forecast to continue into Friday with an additional 1-2 inches of snow, but more than likely won’t amount to a second spring-powder day.

Long Range:

Rain and snow showers are forecast to appear Saturday and Sunday with more sun than showers on Sunday.

On Monday, the potential for more snow exists again, mostly in the northern and northwestern mountains. Backcountry skiing and riding around the Park Range and Cameron Pass would be the best bet to enjoy this storm’s snows since Steamboat is closed, however, some snows could work their way south enough to hit Winter Park, Loveland and Arapahoe Basin.

More details about this potential snow event will come later in the week.

8-14 day temperature outlook for the United States May 7-13 — A map of the 8-14 day temperature outlook for the United States from May 7-13, 2024, shows above average temperatures for roughly 40% of the nation, with Colorado’s mountainous regions 33%-40% above average.

NOAA

A map of the 8-14 day temperature outlook for the United States from May 7-13, 2024, shows above average temperatures for roughly 40% of the nation, with Colorado’s mountainous regions 33%-40% above average.

NOAA

From May 7-13, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 8-14 day temperature outlook forecasts nearly all of Colorado’s mountainous regions to experience above normal average temperatures of between 40%-50%.

Today’s 24 hour snow totals from Colorado resorts:

Arapahoe Basin – 0″

Breckenridge – 0″ (Parts of Peak 8, plus Peaks 9 and 10 closed)

Copper Mountain – 0″

Loveland – 0″

Winter Park – 1″

Aspen Highlands – Closed for season

Aspen Mountain – Closed for season

Beaver Creek – Closed for season

Buttermilk – Closed for season

Cooper – Closed for season

Crested Butte – Closed for season

Echo Mountain – Closed for season

Eldora Mountain – Closed for season

Granby Ranch – Closed for season

Hesperus – Closed for season

Howelsen Hill – Closed for season

Kendall Mountain – Closed for season

Keystone – Closed for season

Monarch – Closed for season

Powderhorn – Closed for season

Purgatory – Closed for season

Silverton – Closed for season

Snowmass – Closed for season

Steamboat – Closed for season

Sunlight – Closed for season

Telluride – Closed for season

Vail – Closed for season

Wolf Creek – Closed for season