Denver faces worst snowstorm in 3 years with travel disruptions, feet of snow expected in Front Range

Snow is now falling across communities of the Centennial State, during what could be the biggest event to impact Denver and Boulder in three years.

This powerful winter storm comes three years to the day Denver saw its last high-impact snowstorm, when the Mile High City saw well over 2 feet of snow during the storm on March 14, 2021.

While the FOX Forecast Center doesn’t expect snowfall totals as high as the March 2021 storm, Denver is still expected to see upwards of a foot of snow. Boulder could see even higher totals.

The Rocky Mountains to the west are set to pick up several feet of snow by the time the storm winds down later Thursday and into Friday.

Travel is also expected to be impacted, especially on major highways such as Interstate 25, Interstate 70 and Interstate 80.

“Difficult to nearly impossible travel conditions may develop in portions of the Boulder – western Denver suburbs – Monument Hill Corridor due to the heavy, wet snowfall,” the National Weather Service warned.

Delays and cancellations are also expected at Denver International Airport (DEN) as the winter storm gets rolling.

Ahead of the storm, Denver Public School officials announced all schools and administrative offices would be closed on Thursday due to weather. 

The weight of the heavy, wet snow could even bring down trees and large branches that might fall onto power lines, leading to scattered power outages.

When will the snow begin in Denver?

Snow began in parts of Utah on Tuesday and spread into places like Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado on Wednesday.

By Wednesday evening, Interstate 70 in the mountains outside of Denver was shut down due to the heavy snowfall and reduced visibilities.

While the snow should remain powdery in the mountains, it will be heavy and wet in the Denver metro.

The snow will continue for much of Thursday before winding down Thursday night.

However, snow is expected to continue into Friday in the mountains of southern Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.

Is Denver under a Winter Storm Warning?

Winter weather alerts stretch across six states in the West, including Colorado, where a majority of the Winter Storm Warnings are in effect.

Denver, Boulder, Castle Rock, Georgetown and Colorado Springs are all included in the Winter Storm Warnings, while cities such as Aspen and Steamboat Springs are under a Winter Weather Advisory.

How much snow will fall in Denver?

The higher elevations of the Rockies will see the highest snow totals from this winter storm, but major cities across the region will also be impacted by significant snow.

The city of Denver is expected to pick up between 8 and 12 inches of snow, but a wide range of totals is expected across the Denver metro area because of the varying elevations along the Front Range.

“The western suburbs are going to see higher totals,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. “So, if you live in Littleton and Morrison going up into the foothills, you’re going to see a lot more than what you’re going to see if you live in Aurora.”

Boulder could also end up receiving a snow jackpot from this storm.

The NWS office in Boulder said the city of Boulder, in addition to the western suburbs of Denver, could see up to 16 inches of snow, with up to 20 inches of snow possible west of Interstate 25.

Two to 3 feet of snow is possible for mountain communities like Golden, Morrison and Nederland. 

Idaho Springs could see up to 2 feet of snow from this winter storm.