A storm system produced a period of moderate to heavy snowfall in the Front Range mountains and foothills as well as South Park. 5 to 18 inches.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS BOU wrote it up.
A storm system produced a period of moderate to heavy snowfall in the Front Range mountains and foothills as well as South Park. The heaviest snowfall occurred in South Park, where storm totals ranged from 10.5 to 18 inches. Elsewhere, storm totals ranged anywhere from 6 to 12 inches.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 23, 1:53 PM MST, 1 hour 7 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 253 PM MDT Mon May 23 2022 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 247 PM MDT Mon May 23 2022 Scattered showers will continue this afternoon, mainly across the northern border and near South Park/Palmer Divide. SPC Mesoanalysis shows little in the way of instability and thus none of this activity has been particularly strong. Still, some light precipitation amounts will be possible through the rest of the day. A second shortwave will dig into the backside of our longwave trough axis overnight tonight, eventually forming a closed 500mb low across far eastern CO by late tomorrow morning, with a 700mb low reforming over far southeastern Colorado. Mid-level moisture will increase across the Foothills and South Park with weak northeasterly upslope developing. There will be a gradual increase in precipitation across the higher elevations south of I-70 overnight, with snow levels settling near 8500-9000 feet. A couple inches of snow will be possible, especially across South Park, with lesser amounts elsewhere. Precipitation will attempt to build into the southwestern metro but any amounts would be light. This system will slowly drift north-northeastward through the day Tuesday. Most of the moisture should remain to the south and east of our forecast area, though the far eastern edges of the plains may see some light rain tomorrow. In the mountains, some moisture lingers with weak mid-level flow. Model soundings indicate at least marginal instability (SBCAPE of 200-500 J/kg), and scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon. Snow levels should remain near 8500-9000 feet through the day and some minor accumulations in the high mountains. Chances for rain decrease significantly along and east of I-25, but can't rule out a few weaker showers/storms there. Temperatures will be below normal yet again, with upper 40s to upper 50s likely for the plains. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) Issued at 247 PM MDT Mon May 23 2022 Wednesday evening, an upper level trough exits the region. Showers continue, mostly over the higher terrain decreasing into early Wednesday morning. An upper level ridge will gradually push into the region Wednesday advecting in higher heights with synoptic descent. This will support a warming and drying trend through the end of the work week. Temperatures warm Wednesday, although highs will still remain slightly below normal with highs in the 60s to low 70s across the plains and 40s/50s for most of the high terrain. Increased NW flow aloft will contribute to breezier northerly wind with gusts to 25 mph across the plains. 700mb temperatures continue to warm Thursday/Friday as the ridge moves over CO reach 11-14C by Friday afternoon. Temperatures Friday have potential to approach the 90 degree mark across the plains. By Friday, an upper level trough pushes into the Pacific NW inducing more enhanced SW flow aloft across the region. Given the slightly increased flow aloft, conditions will be breezy with potential for gusts 25-30 mph. With relative humidity values 13-20 percent across the plains, elevated fire weather conditions (based on RH & wind criteria). However, recent precipitation will likely act to limit this potential. Ensemble cluster analysis shows a general consensus on a transition to a general troughing pattern for the weekend into early next week. However, there is still some uncertainty indicated in the details such as strength, track, and timing of the embedded shortwaves. This will factor into precipitation coverage, amounts, and chances. Ensemble guidance signals a positive anomaly for precipitable water as SW flow favors the transport of richer moisture into the region. Combined with marginal instability, this should support at least slight chances for scattered showers/storms over the mountains and eastern plains each afternoon through early next week. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon) Issued at 1125 AM MDT Mon May 23 2022 Generally VFR conditions expected this afternoon, though ILS approaches may be needed at times. Northeasterly flow will continue through the evening with a very slight chance of showers. Expecting a SCT050 cloud deck or so through the evening. Moisture will increase late this evening and overnight with cloud decks lowering. Can't rule out some light rain at APA and BJC overnight, but the main impact will be cigs lowering to 2000-3000 ft around midnight. Stratus will slowly erode tomorrow morning, with another chance of showers or thunderstorms possible after 18z Tuesday. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 247 PM MDT Mon May 23 2022 Very low chance of burn area flash flooding this afternoon with weak showers around the area. Precipitation amounts would be light and storm motions are fast enough to avoid too many concerns. Tomorrow will see more widespread showers and storms across the high country. Storm motions will be a bit slower than today, but moisture will likely be near or below normal. Can't rule out some localized issues with the combination of rainfall and snowmelt, but the overall threat will still be low. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...Hiris LONG TERM...Mensch AVIATION...Hiris HYDROLOGY...Hiris
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 911 AM MDT Mon May 23 2022 COZ030>051-241515- Jackson County Below 9000 Feet- West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet- Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet- South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/ Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet- South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/ Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above 9000 Feet-Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet- Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet- Central and Southeast Park County- Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County- Boulder And Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet/West Broomfield County- North Douglas County Below 6000 Feet/Denver/West Adams and Arapahoe Counties/East Broomfield County- Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet- Northeast Weld County-Central and South Weld County-Morgan County- Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties- North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln County- Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County- Logan County-Washington County-Sedgwick County-Phillips County- 911 AM MDT Mon May 23 2022 This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms will move across the area through tonight. The showers will be most numerous over and near the mountains in the afternoon and evening, and then south of Interstate 70 later tonight. Rainfall amounts will generally be light. The snow level will be around 8000 feet, with accumulations of 1 to 3 inches possible at higher elevations. Little impact on travel is expected, but roads may become slushy at times above 10,000 feet or under a few heavier showers. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday It will remain cool and unsettled on Tuesday as a weak storm system moves across the region. Snow showers are expected in the mountains and foothills above 8500 feet with rain showers elsewhere. There will be enough instability around for a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. It will be mostly sunny on Wednesday with more seasonal temperatures. Thursday through Saturday will return to more summer-like temperatures, with gusty winds and lower relative humidity. Another system could start to impact the region on Sunday, with slightly cooler temperatures and a chance of showers and thunderstorms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 winter weather, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snowfall was observed over Park County. Storm totals included: 18 inches, 2 miles east of Antero Junction, 13.5 inches, 3 miles southwest of Fairplay; 10.5 inches , 3 miles southwest Alma and 9 miles southeast Weston Pass.
Storm totals included: 12 inches near Echo Lake and 10 inches, 5 miles south-southwest of Blue River; with 5 to 9 inches elsewhere.
Storm totals included: 16 inches in Aspen Springs, 12 inches near Echo Lake and Rollinsville; 11 inches near Brainard Lake, Niwot Ridge, Mount Audubon, and Nederland; 10 inches near Longs Peak.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, May 2022
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1027733, 1018035, 1018038.