At first, the forecast was a low-key bulletin that was often overlooked in favor of springtime stories about pollen counts and tornadoes. The numbers then increased. At Battle Pass, two feet. At Grand Mesa, twenty-four inches. Wet, heavy snow was blown sideways across passes that were only a week before beginning to thaw due to wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour. By Sunday, the National Weather Service had issued advisories for Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and a small portion of Utah. The language used was remarkably straightforward: “heavy, wet snow,” they repeatedly stated, seemingly to ensure that no one would mistake this for a flurry.
Speaking with those who work as snowpack observers gives me the impression that this storm is more intricate than it first appears. This winter has been close to or at a record low throughout most of Colorado, according to Joel Gratz of OpenSnow, who has been monitoring the state’s slopes for years. That’s not fixed by a foot of snow in late April. Perhaps it covers up the worst of it for a week. It might force some obstinate ski lifts into May. However, there is very little movement in the deeper math that determines whether ranchers receive irrigation deliveries in July.
| Storm Snapshot | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Late-season winter storm, April 28 – May 7, 2026 |
| States affected | Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, with parts of Utah |
| Peak snowfall locations | Battle Pass, WY; Grand Mesa, CO |
| Maximum snowfall forecast | Up to 24 inches in the highest elevations |
| Wind gusts | Up to 45 mph |
| Issuing agency | National Weather Service (Cheyenne & Grand Junction offices) |
| Drought status | Northwest Colorado is in “exceptional drought,” the most severe category |
| Snowpack context | 2025–2026 season at or near record lows for most of Colorado |
| Ski areas are still open | Arapahoe Basin and Copper Mountain, closing May 3 |
| Outlook | Building El Niño may bring wetter conditions later in 2026 |
It’s uncomfortable to drive through Frisco right now. In late March, Lake Dillon appeared to be a dry bowl with docks stuck in the mud. The exact location of the former water was visible to locals taking their dogs for walks along the shore. It’s the kind of image that makes a storm forecast seem like cold comfort, and it has been in the local press for weeks. At these temperatures, the snow that has been falling this week melts quickly. It runs off, evaporates, and sinks into nearly a year’s worth of dehydrated ground.
In simple terms, some Colorado locations recently experienced their least snowy season ever, according to Brian Fuchs of the National Drought Mitigation Center. Since 2024, some areas of the state have not experienced consecutive months with precipitation above average. That’s what bothers people. There is a storm. There is a drought as well. Both may be accurate.
The meteorologists themselves continue to hedge, which is remarkable. AccuWeather’s Tom Kines described the situation as “very serious” and stated, almost wearily, that the long-term drought won’t be ending anytime soon. Even Gratz, who leans toward snow optimism in his professional life, acknowledges that every setback is beneficial but won’t act as though it’s a game-changer. A developing El Niño, which traditionally pushes the southwestern U.S. toward wetter patterns, is a positive development. It’s another matter entirely whether the atmosphere truly delivers.
Arapahoe Basin and Copper Mountain, the resorts that are still spinning lifts, are currently leaning into it. This year, A-Basin, which occasionally extends into June, will close on Sunday. Just that particular detail conveys something. These are things that skiers who have been traveling up I-70 for decades notice. A brief season concludes a bit more quietly than normal.
Outside, Battle Pass and the Snowy Range continue to receive snowfall. Chained trucks crawl over Monarch and McClure. A rancher somewhere close to Hesperus is likely gazing up at the sky and making the same calculations as everyone else: how much of this remains, how much disappears, and what’s left when summer arrives.