First Mountain Snow of the Season Blankets Colorado's Rockies

news image
Top Stories
8 Sep 2024 1:05 AM

A fresh couple of inches of snow fell across the high terrain of the Colorado Rockies late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning from September 4-5, 2024. It resulted in outstanding pictures of the Rockies, now white with snow above 10,000 feet!

Copper Mountain, about an hour and a half west of Denver, had a dusting of snow at the top of its ski lifts early Thursday. Nearby Arapahoe Basin was excited to see the snow, given the ski area is usually the first to open in the country each year.

Video credit Lucas Herbert of Arapahoe Basin Ski area and pictures credit Copper Mountain.

It's not unusual to get snow this time of the year in the high terrain. While the low elevations, such as Denver, drop into the 50's at night, the high country drops to the 30's and 20's during the overnights. A cold front moving through Colorado brought enough moisture to provide this light snow above 10,000 feet.

Heavy snowfall rates were reported at Berthoud Pass, CO (about 12,000 feet) late Wednesday. The total snowfall was not heavy, but the rate was briefly intense. The average first snowfall occurs in September in the Rocky Mountain region of the West.

September can provide some light snow accumulation atop New England at Mount Washington and the nearby White Mountains. As we get into October, the first snow becomes more likely in some of the lower elevations farther north.

No additional snow is expected in Colorado in the near-term, but this gets some of us excited for the upcoming ski and snowboard season!

All Weather News
More
NJ Wildfire Still Burning, Rain on the Way

NJ Wildfire Still Burning, Rain on the Way

The Jones Road Fire began in Ocean County, NJ

26 Apr 2025 3:05 AM
Severe Threat Continues for the Southern Plains

Severe Threat Continues for the Southern Plains

More severe thunderstorms will be possible as

26 Apr 2025 3:00 AM
Feeling Like Summer in the Southeast This Week

Feeling Like Summer in the Southeast This Week

The southeast is getting a taste of summer-li

26 Apr 2025 2:50 AM
Severe Weather Outbreak Likely to Start the Week

Severe Weather Outbreak Likely to Start the Week

A major storm system is beginning to take sha

26 Apr 2025 2:45 AM
National Park Week: Get Out and Explore

National Park Week: Get Out and Explore

National Park Week starts Saturday, April 19t

25 Apr 2025 8:20 AM
Big Hail Threat Lingers in the Front Range & Plains Thursday

Big Hail Threat Lingers in the Front Range & Plains Thursday

THURSDAY HAILBig hail fell across the Central

25 Apr 2025 2:50 AM
Cold Front Sparks More Severe Storms Through Tuesday

Cold Front Sparks More Severe Storms Through Tuesday

What's one more day?This slow-moving front wi

23 Apr 2025 5:05 PM