DENVER — With Gov. Jared Polis’ stay-at-home order entering its third week, Denverites will have more than one reason to stay indoors this Easter. There's a chance that Sunday could crack the top five coldest and snowiest Easters on record.
Denver and the surrounding areas can expect to wake up to a white Easter, with snow expected to accumulate starting around sunrise. The storm temperatures will be relatively warm, lingering around 31-33 degrees. Therefore, snow accumulation will be minimal, with 2-4” on the ground by 3 a.m. Monday.
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If the predictions ring true, it’ll be Denver’s coldest Easter since 2008, when the temperature averaged 31 degrees.
This is a stark contrast to last year’s spring holiday, in which temperatures reached the low 70s.
Colorado is no stranger to snow in spring — according to the National Weather Service, Denver’s average snowfall is 11.4 inches in March and 8.9 inches in April.
The Easter Sundays with the coldest average temperature are:
- 1894: 17.5 degrees (with Easter being on the earlier side, March 25)
- 1920: 19.5 degrees
- 1928: 22.5 degrees.
The coldest and snowiest Easters are not synonymous, though.
The Easters that Denver saw the most snow accumulation were:
- 1891: 9.2”
- 1929: 7"
- 1922: 6"
Easter in Denver hasn’t had snow in the past few years — the last recorded snowfall in the area was four years ago in 2016, with about 2” recorded at Denver International Airport.
Apart from the expected snowfall, this Easter Sunday will be different for many families due to the closures imposed by COVID-19. There will be no organized religious services held in-person, including the annual service usually held at the Red Rocks Amphitheater.
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