Snow has yet to fall in Denver this year, and the first flakes are on track to be some of the latest on record, according to the National Weather Service.
On average, Denver sees its first measurable snowfall by Oct. 18, according to weather service records. The city has documented snow as early as Sept. 3, a record set in 1961, and as late as Dec. 10, a record set in 2021, according to weather service statistics.
A high-pressure “weather ridge” has brought warm, dry and stable weather to the metro area for most of the season, delaying snow, weather service meteorologist Zach Hiris said.
It’s also what’s expected to push any potential snowfall into late November, he said.
While Denver has seen rainstorms over the past months, the temperatures weren’t cold enough for rain to turn to snow, Hiris said.
Meteorologists aren’t yet able to predict when the first snow will fall, but Hiris said no precipitation — rain or snow — is expected in the next week. Warm and dry weather is likely to continue through the first half of November, he added.
“It’s certainly not a guarantee,” Hiris said. “Denver weather gets crazy this time of year.”
If Denver doesn’t see its first snow by Nov. 14, it will be the 10th latest snowfall on record for the city, according to the weather service. Denver’s 10 latest first snowfalls include:
- Dec. 10, 2021, with 0.3 inches of snow;
- Nov. 21, 1934, with 1 inch of snow;
- Nov. 19, 1931, with 1 inch of snow;
- Nov. 17, 2016, with 1.7 inches of snow;
- Nov. 16, 1894, with 2.6 inches of snow;
- Nov. 15, 2010, with 1.5 inches of snow;
- Nov. 15, 1988, with 2.5 inches of snow;
- Nov. 15, 1987, with 6.1 inches of snow;
- Nov. 15, 1902, with 4 inches of snow;
- And Nov. 14, 2008, with 0.1 inches of snow. Denver also recorded its first snow on this date in two other years: 1964 and 1944.
At least 0.1 inches of snow must accumulate for it to count as the city’s first official snowfall of the season.
The weather service began gathering snowfall records in 1882.
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.
The post Denver’s first snow on track to be one of the latest on record appeared first on Denver Post