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Colorado gets first snow of the season

The first snow of the season arrived early Thursday morning in Colorado's mountains west of Denver and Colorado Springs.

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. — Colorado has received its first snow of the season.

Reports of the first snow for the season made their way to the Front Range on Thursday morning.

Snow was spotted falling and on the ground at Loveland Pass between Clear Creek and Summit counties.

Snow could also be see at the summit of Pikes Peak near Colorado Springs.

Arapahoe Basin ski area, near Keystone, also received snow at its summit, seen on the ski area's web cameras.

Colorado's overnight snow was limited to areas above 11,000 feet in elevation.

Colorado received a brief taste of fall overnight Wednesday into Thursday. Temperatures in the Denver area will only be in the mid-70s and some morning showers Thursday. 

Thursday's snowfall was several weeks later than when Colorado traditionally sees its first snow. It is normal for the first dusting to happen in the second half of August.

In 2022, the first report was on Aug. 17 and the first snow in 2021 came on Aug. 20 in Colorado. In 2019, the first report of snow didn't come until Sept. 12. In 2023, the first Colorado snow came on Sept. 11.

Colorado's early dustings traditionally melt away in just a few hours. The snowpack accumulation for the season usually doesn't start until the first week of October. That is also when the Denver metro area gets its first snow accumulation of the season. 

The average first snow in Denver is Oct. 18. In 2021, Denver did not get its first snow until Dec. 10. In 2022, Denver received its first trace of snow on Oct. 24.

The snow and rain showers won't last long in Colorado. The state will heat up by Friday and Saturday with high temperatures near 90 degrees on Saturday.

RADAR: Click/tap here for Live Interactive Radar

Credit: Arapahoe Basin
First snow of the season at Arapahoe Basin ski area near Keystone, Colo.

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