A late-season snowstorm is set to bring significant snowfall and hazardous travel conditions to the Rocky Mountains this week, coinciding with Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for parts of Wyoming and Colorado, with forecasts predicting snowfall totals of 10 to 24 inches across the Front Range foothills and Rocky Mountain National Park.
Travel could be very difficult to impossible at times, especially late Tuesday. I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie is expected to receive 8 to 16 inches of snow from Monday night through Wednesday noon. A separate Winter Storm Warning covers Arlington and Elk Mountain along I-80, predicting 5 to 10 inches of snow.
That context matters because heavy snow combined with wind gusts up to 45 mph will create whiteout conditions. Cheyenne could see between 4 and 8 inches of total snow accumulation through Wednesday, making travel unpredictable.
The storm will move out of the Rockies by Wednesday afternoon, leaving behind colder and more wintry conditions. The higher elevations could see more than 18 inches of snow in some areas. This is particularly concerning given that the historic problem spot is the stretch west of Rawlins toward Bitter Creek and the Continental Divide, where drift heights have hit four feet in past storms.
As warmer conditions return on Thursday, residents and travelers alike should remain alert to changing weather patterns and potential road closures. The next few days will be crucial for assessing the impact of this late-season storm on travel across one of America’s most scenic regions.