07-05-2025
How much precipitation did the May storm bring to Southern Colorado?
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — May showers bring May flowers? Moisture made its appearance in Colorado on Monday, May 5, and while it was much-needed, the system will finally conclude on Wednesday evening, May 7.
Snow and rain impacted various parts of Southern Colorado, with most of the precipitation impacting the area on Tuesday.
'We forecast a widespread 1.5″ to 3″ of liquid, with this storm,' said Matt Meister, FOX21 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist. 'We also thought a few spots right up against the mountains could get between 3″ and 5″. We nailed it.'
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor, released on May 1, showed that areas in Southern Colorado were facing drought conditions. This May storm had the chance to help, and even erase some of the drought conditions that surfaced in Southern Colorado after the winter months.
'We've seen drought conditions develop over parts of the region through the winter,' said Meister. 'This probably erases the drought in most cases.'
The latest snow totals across the region show that various areas west obtained the bulk of precipitation, with Victor getting more than a foot of snow.
Parts in Southwestern Colorado are still under a Winter Storm Warning or Winter Weather Advisory until noon on Wednesday.
The Pikes Peak area also received quite a bit of snow, with Pikes Peak – America's Mountain forecasting between 47-52 inches of snow between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Viewers across the area shared a few pictures with FOX21 News, showing off how much precipitation their area had received.
'The nice thing about this storm is the water was able to soak into the ground,' added Meister. 'It fell over an extended period of time versus a quick 20 to 40-minute dump like we sometimes get from seasonal thunderstorms.'
According to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS), accumulated precipitation was also the highest in the western area, with Manitou Springs and areas of Cañon City accumulating more than 3 inches.
While the bulk of the rain and snow has passed, cities are cautioning individuals about flooding due to the prolonged rainfall. Manitou Springs, which has retained the most rainfall in the Pikes Peak region, reported that due to high turbidity readings, it had paused operations at the water treatment plant and switched to a second water storage tank to continue providing safe and reliable water.
After Wednesday, though, the weather improves for Southern Colorado, with 70s and sunshine on tap for the weekend.
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