Weather tracker: Colorado experiences rare spring snowstorm

State experiences largest May snowstorm in 23 years, and extreme rainfall hits Eastern Cape of South Africa

Colorado has experienced a late bout of winter weather this week as residents of Denver and the surrounding areas experienced their largest May snowstorm in 23 years. An outbreak of Arctic air brought freezing cold temperatures that allowed for rainfall to turn widely to snow on Tuesday afternoon, continuing into Wednesday for much of the centre and north of the state.

Denver was the hardest-hit metropolitan area with snow depths of 10-15cm (4-6in) across the city, and 15-20cm in some southern and western suburbs. Denver international airport recorded 15cm, causing hundreds of flight delays, and 35 cancellations.