May 2026

[495weatherguy]

6 minutes ago, nycwinter said:

this may have been the last winter day in the city until this fall..

We can only hope.  
 

The promise of better weather this spring is reminiscent of the promise of a snow storm only 5 days away that never materializes. 

[Santa Claus]

pollen kicking my ass

[MJO812]

Snowing in Denver this week

 Road trip ?

[psv88]

Late day high of 60

[NEG NAO]

[bluewave]

11 hours ago, MJO812 said:

Snowing in Denver this week

 Road trip ?

Backloaded season for them. The West  is one of those places that needs a great snowpack for water supplies and the ski industry. They are way down in both of those areas. Hopefully, the developing very strong El Niño can deliver for them with better snow in the West next winter. 
 

Monthly Total Snowfall for Denver Area, CO (ThreadEx)
Click column heading to sort ascending, click again to sort descending.

2025-2026	0.0	0.0	0.2	6.6	6.6	T	10.5	3.4	M	20.7
2024-2025	0.0	0.0	23.3	1.4	13.3	5.5	2.0	2.2	0.0	47.7
2023-2024	0.0	7.5	2.9	1.4	3.6	13.7	9.2	6.3	T	44.6
2022-2023	0.0	T	10.9	13.0	13.0	4.7	5.1	2.2	T	48.9
2021-2022	0.0	T	T	4.8	13.4	15.8	13.1	T	2.3	49.4
2020-2021	1.0	4.0	5.0	7.0	3.1	13.5	34.0	12.6	T	80.2
2019-2020	0.0	12.5	13.7	2.8	0.9	16.5	7.5	3.7	0.0	57.6

https://www.denverwater.org/tap/denver-water-snowpack-and-water-supply-update

Denver Water’s collection and service areas continue to face severe drought conditions, with historically low snowpack. Denver Water depends on mountain snowpack for its water supply, which serves 1.5 million people in Denver and surrounding suburbs.

As a result, on March 25, 2026, the Denver Board of Water Commissioners declared a Stage 1 drought, seeking a 20% reduction in water use to preserve water levels and avoid even stricter mandatory restrictions later this summer. On April 8, 2026, the board approved the implementation of temporary drought pricing, starting with May water use and reflected in June bills, to signal the premium value of water during droughts and help incentivize customers to save water.

Customers are urged not to turn on automatic sprinkler systems until at least mid- to late-May, or later if possible. It is not necessary to water grass two days per week in April and the beginning of May; keeping automatic systems off will help save water. Occasional hand-watering may be necessary for trees and shrubs during this time. Keep an eye on the weather and let Mother Nature do the watering when she delivers spring rains.

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Snowpack and water supply update

• In Denver Water’s collection system, snowpack as of April 27, 2026, remained at the lowest levels observed in the past 40 years:
  • Colorado River Basin: 18% of normal, worst on record. 
  • South Platte River Basin: 2% of normal, second-worst on record.
• Snowpack and melting conditions are unprecedented, with accelerated melting seen since mid-March. Customers need to save water to protect the supply we have right now.
• Streamflow forecasts are calling for runoff levels to be 10-40% of normal in 2026.
• Reservoir storage conditions are below average; while in reasonably good shape for the time being, far less snowpack is available to help refill them. As of April 27, 2026, reservoirs were 79% full, versus an average of 85% full for this time.