Colorado storm – A strong spring storm moving through Colorado is bringing hail and threatening severe thunderstorms in the northeast, while a winter weather advisory covers mountain areas and a freeze watch is set for late May 18 into May 19. Forecasts call for widespread rai
Residents across Colorado are bracing for a messy stretch of weather as a spring storm rolls in again—this time with hail and severe thunderstorm risk on top of mountain snow and a late-week freeze watch.
The disturbance is expected to produce over an inch of beneficial rain in places including Fort Collins, Estes Park, and Boulder. At the same time, severe thunderstorms with large hail, strong winds, and possible tornadoes are a threat for northeast Colorado.
A winter weather advisory is also in effect for the mountains, where 3 to 15 inches of snow are expected.. Another strong spring storm moved into Colorado on May 16. producing hail on the Eastern Plains. and it is forecast to continue bringing the potential for severe weather on May 17. along with beneficial rain to the I-25 corridor and snow to the mountains.
This lingering system is not expected to match the earlier May 4-6 storm. which dropped nearly 3 feet of snow around Estes Park and nearly 2 inches of precipitation in the Fort Collins area.. Still. the bull’s-eye for the current storm is forecast for much of the same region. with Larimer and Boulder counties at the center of the forecast.
Red Feather Lakes is forecast to receive 5 to 10 inches of snow, while Cameron Pass is expected to see 10 to 19 inches. Fort Collins, Estes Park, and Boulder are each expected to see an inch or more of precipitation.
Beyond the storm’s wet and wintry edge. the National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch from midnight May 18 through the morning of May 19 for the entire northeast quarter of the state—from the Wyoming border to Colorado Springs east—covering Fort Collins. Boulder and Denver.. Lows could reach 30 degrees.
The storm’s timing and severe outlook are tightly set for May 17: isolated strong to severe thunderstorms have the potential to form east of Interstate 76 in northeast Colorado from 11 a.m.. to 8 p.m.. The greatest threat is large hail up to 2 inches in diameter. though strong winds with gusts up to 60 mph and short-lived tornadoes are also possible.. Fort Collins is listed in the marginal potential area for severe weather.
Rainfall totals are forecast for May 17-20, with the best chances clustered during the night of May 17 into May 18.. The precipitation forecast calls for: Estes Park 1.3 inches; Boulder 1.3 inches; Red Feather Lakes 1.2 inches; Fort Collins 1.1 inches; Loveland 1.1 inches; Wellington 1 inch; Cheyenne. Wyo.. 1 inch; Windsor 0.9 inches; Denver 0.8 inches; Walden 0.8 inches; Greeley 0.7 inches; and Sterling 0.4 inches.
In the mountains, the winter weather advisory runs from midnight May 17 through 6 p.m.. May 18 for the northern and central mountains. including Rocky Mountain National Park. Medicine Bow Range. Summit County. Mosquito Range and Indian Peaks.. Forecast accumulations are 3 to 15 inches, with wind gusts up to 45 mph, creating hazardous driving conditions Monday.
How the next few days could unfold in Fort Collins is laid out in the forecast details:
May 17: 70% chance of showers with a thunderstorm possible after noon, increasing to a 90% chance of showers at night. High near 68 degrees. North-northwest wind 9 to 13 mph, becoming east-northeast in the afternoon, gusting as high as 23 mph. Low around 40.
May 18: 100% chance of showers with a thunderstorm possible after noon, decreasing to 40% at night. High near 45, with a north wind 11 to 17 mph, gusting to as high as 31 mph. Low around 32.
May 19: 40% chance of snow showers before 9 a.m, then a chance of rain showers. Some thunder is also possible. Partly sunny, with a high near 52, calm wind and low around 37.
May 20: 40% chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 62 and low around 40.
The pattern of impact is clear from the forecast package itself: the storm’s severe-weather window is concentrated on May 17. rainfall totals peak across May 17-20 with the greatest chance the night of May 17 into May 18. and the colder phase follows quickly with a freeze watch from midnight May 18 through the morning of May 19.
This story was updated with additional information.
Colorado storm hail severe thunderstorms tornado threat large hail winter weather advisory mountain snow freeze watch Fort Collins forecast Boulder forecast Estes Park precipitation