DENVER — A late-season spring storm left behind wet, heavy snow Tuesday with more than 3 inches of accumulation recorded at Denver International Airport (DIA) and up to 20 inches in some mountain areas.
Denver hasn't seen this much snow this late in the season in nearly 44 years when 5.6 inches fell on May 29, 1975.
And although this week’s snow holds the distinction as being the latest Denver has recorded measurable snowfall in the last decade, it's certainly not the first time, or latest in the season that the Mile High City has seen flakes fall.
For that, we’d have to go back to June 2, 1951 when 0.3 inches fell in the Denver metro area. (Note: Measurable snowfall is defined as when accumulation reaches 0.1 inches or higher.)
If we're talking impact, though, a multi-day blizzard back in May 1950 that dumped a whopping 10.8 inches on the city takes the cake.
In more recent history -- on May 21, 2001, a cold front brought a powerful spring snowstorm to the state. Even though accumulation was only at an inch for Denver, strong wind gusts that accompanied the storm uprooted trees and left thousands without power.
A file photo from the 9NEWS archives that day appears to show at least one tree going up in flames after getting tangled up in some downed power lines during the storm.
Snow fell even later in Denver the next year, on May 24, 2002.
While only 0.7 inches fell in Denver, the High Country saw numerous crashes, roads closures and backups due to heavy snow near Vail.
But it wasn't all slick roads and headaches. 9NEWS file footage from that day shows wildlife reveling in the fresh power.
Look at how happy they look!
For the record, the average date of the last snowfall in Denver is April 27.
Here’s a look at late-May measurable snow from Denver’s history, according to the National Weather Service:
- May 21, 1891 - 1 inch
- May 21, 1910 - 3.8 inches
- June 1, 1919 - .4 inches
- May 20-21, 1931 - 4.6 inches
- May 28, 1947 - 1 inch
- May 25-28 1950 - 10.8 inches
- June 2, 1951 - .3 inches (latest snow in Denver ever recorded)
- May 29, 1975 - 5.6 inches
- May 21, 2001 - 1 inch
- May 24, 2002 - .7 inches
PHOTOS: A look at May snow throughout Colorado history
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