Jazmin Li
Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, generating over $36 billion for the state of Colorado annually. The airport has been impacted by snowfall in the past, with snow removal crews being deployed when needed. For example, on March 13, 2021, the airport expected heavy snow to begin accumulating in the afternoon, with snowfall rates of one to one and a half inches predicted. Interestingly, aircraft landing at the airport have also unwittingly triggered snow formation on certain occasions, such as on January 27, 2025, when flights produced a light accumulation of snow.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | March 13, 2021 |
| Time | 1:30 p.m. |
| Snowfall rate | One-inch to one and one-half-inch of snow |
| Total storm snow accumulation | 15.5-27 inches |
| Cancelled flights | 750 |
| Delayed flights | Yes |
| Parking | West economy lot and both garages are open |
| Face coverings | Required |
| Current weather conditions | Scattered clouds, 67°F(19°C) Wind, 12 kts, N, 10 miles visibility |
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What You'll Learn
Flights can cause snow in Denver
Denver International Airport, located in the northeast of the city, is one of the best airports in the country when it comes to handling inclement weather. While snow is not usually an issue for the airport, it can sometimes cause flight delays and cancellations. De-icing is often the main culprit behind these delays.
On January 27, 2025, an interesting phenomenon occurred where commercial flights produced surprise snowfall in Denver. This happened when aircraft landed on a 12,000-foot-long north-south runway west of the terminals. As the planes made their final approach, they flew through a cloud of supercooled water droplets—liquid water droplets that remain in a liquid state even at temperatures below freezing. These droplets need a nucleus to freeze onto and form snowflakes. In this case, the microscopic particulates emitted from aircraft engines, such as specks of metal, hydrocarbons, and sooty material, acted as the nuclei, causing the supercooled water to freeze and create snow.
This is not an isolated incident. Similar occurrences have been reported in Chicago's O'Hare Airport in 2018 and in Dallas in 2021. While Denver itself does not launch weather balloons, model data can be used to simulate the atmospheric conditions at the time of the snow. By analyzing temperature and dew point data, meteorologists can determine the moisture content and temperature of the air, providing valuable insights into the formation of this unique snowfall.
Denver International Airport, also known as DEN or DIA, is the largest airport in the United States by land area, spanning 52.4 square miles. It is also America's third-busiest airport by passenger volume, serving over 77.8 million passengers in 2023. Its ability to efficiently manage snow removal and runway clearance contributes to its reputation as one of the best airports for handling challenging weather conditions.
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Snow impacts travel to the airport
When there is heavy snowfall, airlines often cancel or delay flights to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. In the case of the March 2021 snowstorm, over 750 flights were cancelled at DEN, with only a few flights remaining in the afternoon and evening. As a result, travellers are often advised to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport to avoid unnecessary trips and inconvenience.
In addition to flight disruptions, snow can also affect airport ground transportation. Motorists driving to or from the airport are advised to exercise caution and allow for extra travel time. Construction activities may further impact travel to the airport, as detours and road closures may be in place. For example, in the case of the March 2021 snowstorm, construction on Jackson Gap resulted in detours, and some parking lots at DEN were closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Snow removal and treatment crews play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of snow on airport travel. At DEN, snow removal crews were prepared to deploy during the March 2021 snowstorm to treat and clear Peña Blvd. and parking lots. The airport also had supplies in the event passengers were stranded overnight. While these measures help, snow can still cause delays and disruptions to airport operations, impacting travellers and affecting the flow of people and goods through the airport.
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Snow removal crews at the airport
Snow removal crews at Denver International Airport (DEN) have their work cut out for them, with the airport's location receiving a seasonal average of 55 inches of snow per year. The airport covers 53 square miles, or more than 34,000 acres, which is larger than the island of Manhattan, the city of San Francisco, and the city of Miami. This vast area includes 300 lane miles of roads and 30 acres of parking lots with 44,255 parking spaces.
The airport has nearly 600 trained snow removal personnel, and they utilise approximately 324 pieces of airside snow removal equipment, including blowers, brooms, blades, plows, runway sanders, snow melters, chemical trucks, loaders with box plows, bobcats, and more. The airport has invested in state-of-the-art multi-function machinery that can simultaneously plow, sweep, blow snow, and spread liquid and sand products, significantly reducing the time needed to clear a runway.
The snow removal operations are divided into "airside" and "landside." Airside operations cover runways, taxiways, and ramp areas, while landside operations include Peña Boulevard, parking lots, and additional roads. During snow events, snow teams are further divided across the east and west airfields, with east airfield runways for arrivals and west airfield runways for departures.
The airport's snow removal programme is award-winning, recognised by the Balchen/Post award for outstanding snow and ice removal teams that ensure safe operations. The programme uses cutting-edge technology and equipment to maintain efficient and safe airfield functionality, even in challenging winter conditions.
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Snowfall rates and accumulation
Snowfall rates of one to one and a half inches per hour were predicted for the afternoon and evening of March 13, 2021, at Denver International Airport. The total storm snow accumulation was expected to be between 15.5 and 27 inches. The airport was prepared to manage the storm, with snow removal crews on standby to deploy as soon as the snow started to accumulate.
The snow accumulation could cause travel disruptions. For example, motorists were advised to drive with caution and allow extra time when travelling to the airport. Additionally, some parking lots at the airport, such as the Pikes Peak shuttle lot, may become inaccessible due to construction activities combined with heavy snowfall.
In some rare instances, aircraft landing at the airport have contributed to surprise snowfalls in the area. On January 27, 2025, flights landing at the airport triggered the formation of ice crystals in a cloud layer just above the ground, resulting in a small amount of snowfall. This phenomenon has also occurred at other airports, such as O'Hare in Chicago and Dallas.
Denver International Airport is located in an area where snow is a common occurrence, and the airport has the necessary equipment and procedures in place to manage it.
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The airport's busiest times
Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. It is the third-busiest airport in the US and acts as a major airport for United, Frontier, and Southwest Airlines. The airport generates more than $36 billion for the state of Colorado annually.
The busiest times at the airport are from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. as several flights are scheduled to take off early in the morning. The average security wait time at the airport is 11 minutes, but it can fluctuate due to weather, construction, and TSA staffing levels. The maximum wait time is 30 minutes between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., while the minimum is 2 minutes between 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The busiest days to travel are usually Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays. The July Fourth holiday week is one of the busiest times of the year at Denver International Airport, with the airport projecting record-setting traffic of about 1.2 million passengers from June 28 through July 4. The airport projects the busiest times at the TSA screening checkpoints to be from about 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
During the Thanksgiving travel period, the three busiest days at the airport are projected to be the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after. On these days, the TSA projects it will screen approximately 76,000, 80,000, and 86,000 travelers, respectively, with Sunday being the busiest day of the holiday travel period.
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Frequently asked questions
I cannot say for sure if it is snowing at Denver Airport today, but it is expected to be windy with a little snow at times.
Yes, it has snowed at Denver Airport before. On March 13, 2021, heavy snow was predicted, and snow removal crews were deployed.
Denver Airport remains open during heavy snow, but flights may be delayed or canceled. In the event passengers get stranded overnight, the airport is prepared with supplies.
In some cases, aircraft landing at Denver Airport have triggered the formation of ice crystals in cloud layers just above the ground, producing a minor snowfall.
