COLORADO – Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder and Fort Collins are approaching winter 2026-27 with a reminder that Colorado’s historical annual snowfall averages approximately 71.07 inches across weather stations statewide. While El Niño can influence storm tracks and seasonal temperatures, it does not eliminate major snowstorms, dangerous cold or mountain travel disruptions, including winter weather extending through March.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), its October 15, 2026, outlook for December through February places much of Colorado in an equal-chances temperature category, with warmer-than-normal conditions favored in northern areas. Above-normal precipitation is favored across portions of southern and eastern Colorado, while other areas have no clear precipitation signal. These outlooks describe seasonal probabilities, not predicted snowfall totals.
What Colorado’s Snowfall History Actually Shows Colorado’s 71.07-inch historical average reflects weather stations statewide rather than Denver’s individual snowfall normal…