Spring Snowstorm Barging Into Colorado, Wyoming

A powerful spring storm dropped more than a foot of sloppy, wet snow in parts of Colorado and Wyoming on Sunday, and forecasters are warning that conditions could get

worse as temperatures plummet overnight.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for most of northern Colorado and parts of southern Wyoming for all of Sunday and for Monday morning.

Forecasters were also warning that strong thunderstorms and possibly tornadoes could develop in eastern Nebraska and Iowa. There was a moderate risk of severe weather in the area starting Sunday afternoon and continuing into Sunday night, the weather service said.

In Colorado, snow amounts could vary greatly, but up to 15 inches could fall at higher elevations and 4 to 9 inches could fall at lower elevations, including Denver and other cities along Colorado’s Front Range.

“If we see the total accumulations that we are anticipating from this storm, we are certainly going to see a top 10 May snow event for the Denver metro area,” said David Barjenbruch, a weather service meteorologist in Boulder.

Barjenbruch said a foot of snow had already fallen in the foothills of Larimer County northwest of Denver by Sunday morning, and workers along much of the Front Range can expect a “slushy, sloppy morning commute” Monday.

The weather service also warned that snow could be heavy and wet enough to snap tree limbs and power lines, causing power failures. Winds gusting up to 30 mph could reduce visibility, and slushy roads could be treacherous to drive.

This article appeared in print on page 2 of the May 12th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.