Boulder is one of the snowiest cities in the United States.
Snowstorms on the Front Range usually occur when cold winds from the east or northeast are forced upward as they reach the foothills, causing the air to cool. Water vapor in the air soon condenses as snow. This effect is strongest between Boulder and the highest mountain peaks to our west. Heavy snow in Boulder usually melts within a few days, even in midwinter, because of our sunshine and frequent mild spells. May. Many of the small-scale differences in vegetation on the mesa are due to differences in the timing of snowmelt.