Tomer’s Take:
- A major late May snowstorm is on track with the biggest overall totals falling across Colorado’s Foothills and Continental Divide above 6,000ft.
- This cold front will first slide south through MT and WY with minor snow accumulation.
- Strong wind precedes this storm system.
Current Setup
Infrared satellite shows the storm track. The low pressure across the northern tier is dragging a major cold front. That’s the cold front headed for MT, WY, and CO.
Forecast Snow
Let’s talk bullseyes. Here’s a look at Longs Peak (14,259′) in Colorado this morning. I’m forecasting 24-36″ on Longs between Friday-Saturday.
This is a classic Front Range setup with major upslope orographic wind flow favoring the Divide-East in Colorado.
Here are my forecast totals by day.
| Snow (Inches) | 5/20 | 5/21 |
| Longs Peak | 15 | 15 |
| Mount Bierstadt | 15 | 15 |
| Berthoud Pass | 12 | 8 |
| Mount Elbert | 4 | 10 |
| Peak 8 Breck | 4 | 12 |
| Mount Harvard | 2 | 13 |
| Crestone Peak | 2 | 8 |
| Mount Sneffels | 1 | 2 |
| Denver Metro | 2 | 2 |
5/19-5/28:
There’s a 2nd much smaller storm system that slides through Colorado’s mountains between 5/22-5/23 with minor additional accumulation.
Wind Gust Forecast
| Gust (MPH) | 5/19 | 5/20 | 5/21 |
| Mount Sneffels | 55 | 60 | 50 |
| Crestone Needle | 65 | 65 | 45 |
| Longs Peak | 70 | 20 | 20 |
| Kings Peak | 60 | 35 | 20 |
| Grand Teton | 70 | 30 | 15 |
| Wheeler Peak | 55 | 60 | 55 |
Any chance we see some of that precipitation in far Northern New Mexico (Taos area)? We are desperate.
Chances are very low, unfortunately. The wind remains a problem.
I’ve been watching your fire conditions closely. Praying you get rain or snow soon 🙏
Thanks, Theresa!
No Utah really
This one misses Utah…sorry, Luke.
What about over on the northeastern plains of CO? What does our wind and snow look like?
Remaining breezy today but then you’ll get a break from the wind Tuesday-Thursday. Last storm dropped mainly rain but a few areas saw 1-3 inches (Crook 8″ reported) of snow. Overall, great moisture.
I have caught a handful of your videos on Youtube. Good stuff. However, it looks like the newest one on YT is 4 weeks old. Is that the best place to watch the latest?
Thanks, Mike! I was doing those mainly for ski season. I might do some for Summer hiking/climbing. My YouTube channel is the best place to find them. Chris
Hello Chris,
Any thoughts on what the Sangre’s will receive precip wise out of this storm?
Hi Hunter, this Monday-Tuesday storm system delivers 5-12″ of total snow on the spine of the Sangres from Culebra to Little Bear to the Crestone’s. Drier Wednesday. Upcoming weekend looks windy down there.