After a notably long wait, residents of Boulder and Longmont in Boulder County are poised to experience their first snowfall since April. Starting Friday evening, both cities are expected to receive between 1 and 3 inches of snow, according to Accuweather, with snow anticipated to continue through Sunday, as reported by the National Weather Service.
This is set to become a record-breaking event, marking the latest first snowfall on record for both Boulder and Longmont. Previously, the latest snowfall had been recorded on November 17, but with the projected snowfall on Friday, that record will be surpassed by 11 days. As of Friday, it will have been 216 days since Boulder last saw snow, while Longmont will have gone 224 days without a snowfall.
Boulder’s snowfall records have been meticulously tracked since 1948, as per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, while Longmont has documented snowfall history since 1990, according to local retired meteorologist Dave Larison.
This year’s delayed first snowfall can be attributed to a persistent high-pressure system that dominated Colorado’s weather for an extended period. Residents have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of a Pacific cold front to usher in a change from the unusually warm weather. Now, it appears that colder temperatures are finally making their way into the area, with forecasts indicating that temperatures will remain below freezing throughout the weekend in both Boulder and Longmont.
On Saturday, Boulder is expected to reach a high of 28 degrees, while Longmont might see a high of 30 degrees. The cold spell is projected to continue into Sunday, with Boulder bracing for a high of 26 degrees and Longmont for a high of 29 degrees. Additionally, both cities can anticipate lows in the low teens by Sunday morning.
This long-awaited snowfall not only breaks records but also signals the arrival of winter in the area, offering a refreshing change for residents and a delightful prelude to the holiday season.