The sequel to Wednesday’s snowstorm — which dumped up to 10 inches in some Denver metro areas — hit central Colorado Friday afternoon and was expected to stretch into Saturday morning.

The potentially historic November snowfall caused closures and cancellations throughout the area, with schools and government buildings shutting down throughout the metro.

More than 100 local schools closed for the day. These closures included Aurora Public Schools, Cherry Creek Schools, Denver Public Schools, Douglas County School District and Jeffco Public Schools and Littleton Public Schools.

Government and city buildings in Denver County, Jefferson County, Douglas County, Boulder County, Adams County and Arapahoe County all closed early Friday, as well.

Fortunately — or unfortunately for snow lovers — the weather did not turn out to be as tumultuous as expected, with the National Weather Service initially announcing a 3 to 7 inches of snow in the area by Friday afternoon.

Still, the storm is expected to strike the city, just later than planned. The National Weather Service still has a winter weather advisory until Saturday at noon, with 6 to 12 inches expected across the metro before Saturday afternoon.

The preceding snowstorm and flurries throughout the day caused various troubles for travelers, with roads south and east of Denver seeing significant closures and the Denver International Airport seeing 672 incoming and outgoing flights delayed around 3 p.m. A total of 480 flights were cancelled, according to FlightAware.

Highways like I-70 Eastbound Airpark to Burlington, I-70 Westbound Burlington to Limon and I-25 Southbound from Pueblo to Colorado/New Mexico state line were also closed throughout the day, with no reopening planned until after the Saturday storm.

The Colorado Department of Transportation also issued a trailer restriction for all vehicles heading westward on I-70 past Golden until 8 a.m. Saturday.

The same restrictions and timeline will be in place for vehicles heading in both directions on U.S. 6 from Mile Point 217 (Keystone) to 229 (Georgetown), U.S. 40 from Mile Point 234 (Winter Park) to 256 (Empire), U.S. 285 from Mile Point 250 (Morrison) to 184 (Fairplay) and I-25 from Mile Point 180 (South of Plum Creek Pkwy) to 150 (N. Academy Blvd).

The Colorado State Patrol also announced that commercial vehicles will not be allowed to travel on southbound I-25, south of C470 (exit 194), due to a lack of parking and resources between Denver and Colorado Springs.

The agency did not say when the ban would be lifted.

The stretch of snowstorms is expected to cease by Sunday, with highs expected to reach into the 50s.

Snowfall totals

While Denver hadn’t felt the brunt of the storm as of Friday afternoon, the snowfall totals from since Wednesday have been significant throughout the state.

Central Denver has seen around 7 inches since Wednesday, with more yet to come, according to the National Weather Service. Areas of Lakewood and Golden have seen up to 16 inches, while eastward to Aurora has seen up to 13 inches.

Interestingly, the north of Colorado did not see any snow during the nearly week-long snow blast, with Fort Collins reporting no snow since Wednesday.

South and east of Denver have seen the most precipitation, though. For example, parts of Colorado Springs have seen around 14 inches and Rye has seen 28 inches.

East of Denver, like Hugo and Seibert and beyond to Kansas, have seen over 20 inches of snow over the past 48 hours. 

Effects on snowpack and drought in Colorado from early November snow storms

According to data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, statewide median snowpack climbed from 103% of average on Oct. 29 to 170% on Nov. 8. The SNOTEL automated monitoring site at Medano Creek in the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains shows median snowpack at 1700% above average.

Snow in southern and southeastern Colorado accumulated the most, with 37 inches of snow reported in the last 72 hours at the La Veta SNOTEL site Friday morning.

Median snowpack levels data from today’s date mimic winter 1996-97, 98-99 and 2011-12, but winter 1996-97 did have 1.2 inches more snow water equivalent in the snowpack.

The southern mountains snowpack grew massively with the storm too, surpassing 200% in four river basins and 300% in three river basins.

Drought conditions in Colorado expanded in summer 2024, especially in southern Colorado. 

However, multiple storms have brought much needed rain and snow to the entire state.

Compared to last year, drought conditions in the southern half of Colorado have improved while conditions in northern Colorado have declined.