Snow storm warning

A late-season snowstorm is set to hit the Rocky Mountains on May 4, 2026, bringing significant snowfall and hazardous travel conditions just in time for Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

Key snowfall predictions:

• Forecasts predict snowfall totals of 10 to 24 inches across the Front Range foothills and Rocky Mountain National Park.
• 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.

Travel conditions are expected to be very difficult to impossible at times—especially late Tuesday. Officials warn that heavy snow will create whiteout conditions with wind gusts reaching up to 45 mph.

Cheyenne could see between 4 and 8 inches of total snow accumulation through Wednesday. The storm is anticipated to exit the area by Wednesday afternoon, leading to warmer conditions by Thursday.

This weather event coincides with a historic problem spot in the region: the stretch west of Rawlins toward Bitter Creek and the Continental Divide, where drift heights have hit four feet in past storms.