Late-Season Snowstorm Wreaks Havoc on Boulder Trees, Power Grid

Boulder, Colorado – Cleanup is underway in Boulder following a powerful late-May snowstorm that moved out of the area but left behind a trail of heavy, wet destruction. While some of the snow has already melted, the damage to trees and power lines continues to unfold across local neighborhoods.

The unseasonably heavy, wet snow proved particularly destructive because trees had already leafed out during an unseasonably warm early spring. The added weight from the accumulation bent and snapped numerous trees, bringing down large branches across the city.

“To have this heavy snow, it’s just been brutal,” said one local homeowner, who was out cutting branches and shaking trees in an effort to stop further damage.

The pressure from the snow is not only breaking limbs but also hitting power lines. Xcel Energy crews have been working in neighborhoods where residents reported hearing transformers blow. One neighbor described the scene: “I heard another kind of like a loud crash, and some people up stairs and out the side window saw some sparks, almost like a light ball exploding.”

Despite the chaos, some residents found a silver lining. A local parent noted that school was canceled for the day, adding, “That’s the good part of the day. But the trees are having a tough day.”

City leaders are urging everyone to stay away from snow-loaded trees and have clarified that any cleanup on private property falls under the responsibility of homeowners. Officials continue to assess the extent of the damage as power restoration and debris removal efforts press on.