While Saturday’s snowstorm won’t go down as much more than a ho-hum December snowstorm, it helped boost Denver’s seasonal snowfall to nearly 30 inches.
Across the metro area, a widespread 2-5 inches of snow fell on Friday night and Saturday, including an official total of 2.8 inches at Denver’s official climate site at Denver International Airport.
A few spots picked up above five inches of snow, mainly along the typically snowier Palmer Divide, and in the foothills. One 12-inch snow total was reported near Conifer, by far the highest across the area.
Looks like 2-5" for most of the metro Denver area from this storm, with a few localized higher totals in the usual spots.
— Chris Bianchi (@BianchiWeather)
With 2.8 inches of snowfall, though, Denver’s seasonal snowfall is now up to 29 inches, which means that the city will now close out December over six inches above average so far this season. Those figures are based on official observations taken at Denver International Airport.
As of 5pm, Denver (DIA) has received 2.8" of snow w/the latest storm. This brings Denver's seasonal total to 29.0". Denver's normal snowfall thru the end of December is 22.5" (NCEI 1981-2010).
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
At the more centrally-located old Stapleton Airport climate site, 2 inches of snow fell between Friday night and Saturday, bringing that climate site’s seasonal snowfall total to 32.2 inches so far this season. That’s closer to 10 inches above average so far this season, despite an overall slow December.
Most of this season’s Front Range snowfall, of course, came during an unusually busy October and November. Denver officially saw 26.2 inches of snow between October and November, making it the fastest start to a winter season in a decade. Most of December along the Front Range has, however, been dominated by a dry and mild weather pattern, though the mountains have continued to pile up big snow totals throughout the winter season.
indicates that Denver’s done with any snowfall for the remainder of the decade, though there’s a chance for some light snowfall to kick off the new year on Wednesday.
