Alert archive / Arizona / Winter Storm Warnings in 2019
Winter Storm Warning 2, NWS Tucson, AZ
NWS Tucson, AZ issued this winter storm warning at Feb 20, 2019, 3:38 AM MST for 6 counties in Arizona. It took effect at Feb 21, 2019, 5:00 AM MST. It was in force for 39 hr. 50 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Feb 20, 2019, 3:38 AM MST (10:38 UTC)
- In effect from
- Feb 21, 2019, 5:00 AM MST
- Expired
- Feb 22, 2019, 8:00 PM MST
- In force
- 39 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Tucson, AZ
Counties Cochise County, AZ, Graham County, AZ, Greenlee County, AZ, Pima County, AZ, Pinal County, AZ, Santa Cruz County, AZ
The radar
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:38 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 21, 5:30 PM MST | SNOW 3.8 | Summerhaven, AZ | 3.8 INCHES OF SNOWFALL REPORTED. |
| Feb 22, 7:37 AM MST | SNOW 1.3 | 19 Se Tucson, AZ | STATION ELEVATION: 3583 FT. |
| Feb 22, 7:56 AM MST | SNOW 0.8 | 1 Nnw Oro Valley, AZ | STATION ELEVATION: 2850 FT. |
| Feb 22, 8:14 AM MST | SNOW 3 | 20 E Green Valley, AZ | VISIBILITIES DOWN TO A 1/2 MILE. STATION ELEVATION: 4278 FT. |
| Feb 22, 8:25 AM MST | SNOW 15 | 8 Wsw Miami, AZ | PUBLIC REPORTS APPROXIMATELY 15 INCHES OF SNOW AT TOP OF THE WORLD BETWEEN GLOBE AND SUPERIOR. PICTURES SUPPORT AT LEAST A FOOT OF SNOW. |
| Feb 22, 8:26 AM MST | HEAVY SNOW 0.5 | 9 W Sierra Vista, AZ | SPOTTER RECEIVED 0.5 INCHES OF SNOW IN 45 MINUTES. SAID SNOW BEGAN AT 7:45AM. VISIBILITY ESTIMATED AT LESS THAN 0.25 MILES. |
| Feb 22, 8:28 AM MST | SNOW 1.5 | Catalina, AZ | STATION ELEVATION: 3148 FT. |
| Feb 22, 8:29 AM MST | SNOW 0.5 | 6 Sse Green Valley, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 8:32 AM MST | HEAVY SNOW 19.5 | Willow Canyon, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 8:53 AM MST | HEAVY SNOW 2.5 | 14 Se Tucson, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 8:54 AM MST | HEAVY SNOW 1 | 10 Wnw Tucson, AZ | SPOTTER AT GRANT AND SILVERBELL HAS RECORDED 1 INCH OF SNOW IN THE LAST 45 MINUTES. |
| Feb 22, 9:00 AM MST | SNOW 3 | 3 W Superior, AZ | 3 INCHES OF SNOW REPORTED BY BOYCE THOMPSON ARBORETUM STATE PARK EMPLOYEE. |
| Feb 22, 9:15 AM MST | SNOW 2.5 | 3 W Catalina, AZ | SNOW TOTAL SINCE 7AM. |
| Feb 22, 9:20 AM MST | HEAVY SNOW 3 | Catalina, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 9:30 AM MST | SNOW 0.8 | 11 Wnw Tucson, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 9:30 AM MST | SNOW 1.5 | 14 Ne Saint David, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 9:30 AM MST | HEAVY SNOW 2.2 | 9 Se Tucson, AZ | SOCIAL MEDIA POST FROM PUBLIC MEASURING ROUGHLY 2.2 INCHES OF SNOW IN THE RITA RANCH AREA. |
| Feb 22, 9:48 AM MST | SNOW 2 | 10 Ssw Tucson, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 10:00 AM MST | SNOW 1.3 | 9 Wnw Tucson, AZ | SNOW TOTAL SINCE 7AM. |
| Feb 22, 10:03 AM MST | SNOW 5.5 | 1 Wsw Oracle, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 10:30 AM MST | HEAVY SNOW 1 | 4 Wsw Tucson, AZ | SOCIAL MEDIA POST MEASURING 1 INCH OF SNOW AT IRVINGTON AND PARK. |
| Feb 22, 10:30 AM MST | HEAVY SNOW 3 | 8 Sse Tucson, AZ | SOCIAL MEDIA POST MEASURING NEARLY 3 INCHES ON SOUTH KOLB ROAD. |
| Feb 22, 10:30 AM MST | SNOW 3 | 9 Se Tucson, AZ | 3 INCHES IN RITA RANCH. |
| Feb 22, 10:31 AM MST | SNOW 4 | 14 Se Tucson, AZ | 4 INCHES IN VAIL. |
| Feb 22, 10:33 AM MST | HEAVY SNOW 8 | 1 Ese Oracle, AZ | SOCIAL MEDIA POST MEASURING 8 INCHES OF SNOW IN ORACLE. SINCE THE POST, AN OFF DUTY NWS METEOROLOGIST MEASURED 10 INCHES IN ORACLE. |
| Feb 22, 10:36 AM MST | SNOW 1.5 | 6 Sw Tucson, AZ | REPORT FROM TUCSON AIRPORT ASOS. |
| Feb 22, 10:38 AM MST | SNOW 6 | 19 Se Tucson, AZ | SOUTHEAST VAIL. LOCATION APPROXIMATE. VIA TWITTER. |
| Feb 22, 10:45 AM MST | SNOW 1.5 | Tucson International Ai, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 10:45 AM MST | SNOW 4 | Mescal, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 10:45 AM MST | SNOW 7 | Patagonia, AZ | 6-8 INCHES OF SNOW IN PATAGONIA. TREE LIMBS BROKEN FROM HEAVY SNOW DOWNED POWER LINES CAUSING POWER OUTAGE. STATION ELEVATION: 4053 FT. |
| Feb 22, 10:58 AM MST | SNOW 1.3 | 7 Ene Tucson, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 11:03 AM MST | SNOW 3 | 15 Se Tucson, AZ | LOCATION ESTIMATED, REPORT VIA TWITTER. |
| Feb 22, 11:26 AM MST | SNOW 10 | 2 E Oracle, AZ | 10 INCHES ORACLE STATE PARK. |
| Feb 22, 12:00 PM MST | SNOW 2 | 2 Sse Tucson, AZ | 2 INCH REPORT AT DAVIS MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE VIA TWITTER. |
| Feb 22, 12:12 PM MST | SNOW 2.2 | Summerhaven, AZ | 2.2 INCHES SINE 8AM. STORM TOTAL 24 INCHES. |
| Feb 22, 12:25 PM MST | SNOW 2 | 1 Ssw Rio Rico, AZ | 2 INCHES AT RIO RICO. |
| Feb 22, 12:26 PM MST | SNOW 2.5 | 8 N Green Valley, AZ | PUBLIC REPORT VIA TWITTER. |
| Feb 22, 12:35 PM MST | SNOW 7.2 | 21 E Green Valley, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 1:00 PM MST | HEAVY SNOW 12 | Sonoita, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 2:00 PM MST | SNOW 0.8 | 4 Wnw Tucson, AZ | NWS TUCSON OFFICE STORM TOTAL THROUGH 2 PM. |
| Feb 22, 2:00 PM MST | SNOW 1.9 | Tucson International Ai, AZ | STORM TOTAL THROUGH 2 PM. |
| Feb 22, 2:10 PM MST | SNOW 4 | Whetstone, AZ | |
| Feb 22, 2:10 PM MST | SNOW 5.5 | Corona De Tucson, AZ | 5.5 INCHES IN CORONA DE TUCSON. |
| Feb 22, 3:42 PM MST | HEAVY SNOW 11 | 21 E Green Valley, AZ | STORM-TOTAL SNOWFALL AT MILEPOST 51 ON HIGHWAY 83. |
| Feb 22, 5:02 PM MST | HEAVY SNOW 21 | 45 N Morenci, AZ | STORM-TOTAL SNOWFALL AT BEAVER HEAD SNOTEL. |
| Feb 22, 5:05 PM MST | HEAVY SNOW 25 | 40 N Morenci, AZ | HANNIGAN MEADOW SNOTEL STORM-TOTAL SNOWFALL. |
| Feb 22, 5:15 PM MST | HEAVY SNOW 30 | 1 W Summerhaven, AZ | MT. LEMMON SNOW STAKE VISIBLE ON WEBCAM. |
| Feb 22, 5:34 PM MST | HEAVY SNOW 8.8 | 11 W Huachuca City, AZ | ELGIN STORM-TOTAL SNOWFALL. |
| Feb 22, 5:37 PM MST | HEAVY SNOW 3.5 | 1 Nne Huachuca City, AZ | STORM-TOTAL SNOWFALL. |
| Feb 22, 6:07 PM MST | HEAVY SNOW 9.5 | 11 Nne Patagonia, AZ | SONOITA STORM-TOTAL SNOWFALL. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The nearest sounding before it
Tuscon, AZ (KDMA), launched 00:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 49 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -8 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2186 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 46 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 59 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 83 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
009 WWUS45 KTWC 201038 WSWTWC URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Tucson AZ 338 AM MST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...MAJOR WINTER STORM TO BRING SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL TO THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHEAST ARIZONA THURSDAY AND FRIDAY... AZZ510-511-513>515-210000- /O.UPG.KTWC.WS.A.0001.190221T1800Z-190223T0000Z/ /O.NEW.KTWC.WS.W.0002.190221T1200Z-190223T0000Z/ White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties- Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains- Dragoon and Mule and Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains- Catalina and Rincon Mountains-Baboquivari Mountains- Including the cities of Hannagan Meadow, Mount Graham, Bisbee, Canelo Hills, Mount Lemmon, and Summerhaven 338 AM MST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM THURSDAY TO 5 PM MST FRIDAY ABOVE 5000 FEET... * WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow expected. Travel will be very difficult to impossible. Tree branches could fall as well. Total snow accumulations of 12 to 24 inches between 5000 feet and 7000 feet and 24 to 40 inches with localized amounts up to 46 inches above 7000 feet. * WHERE...White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains, Dragoon and Mule and Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains, Catalina and Rincon Mountains and Baboquivari Mountains. * WHEN...5 AM Thursday to 5 PM Friday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 45 mph will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow along with whiteout or blizzard like conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ AZZ506-210000- /O.UPG.KTWC.WS.A.0001.190221T1800Z-190223T0000Z/ /O.NEW.KTWC.WS.W.0002.190222T0600Z-190223T0000Z/ Southeast Pinal County- 338 AM MST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THURSDAY TO 5 PM MST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Plan on difficult travel conditions, including during the morning commute on Friday. Total snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches with localized higher amounts. * WHERE...Southeast Pinal County, specifically the Oracle area. * WHEN...11 PM Thursday to 5 PM Friday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Look for significant reductions in visibility at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ AZZ512-210000- /O.UPG.KTWC.WS.A.0001.190222T0600Z-190223T0000Z/ /O.NEW.KTWC.WS.W.0002.190222T0600Z-190223T0000Z/ Chiricahua Mountains- Including the city of Chiricahua NM 338 AM MST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THURSDAY TO 5 PM MST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow expected. Plan on difficult travel conditions. Damage to trees and power lines is possible. Total snow accumulations of 10 to 16 inches, with localized amounts up to 20 inches, are expected. * WHERE...Chiricahua Mountains. * WHEN...11 PM Thursday to 5 PM Friday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 55 mph will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
6 follow-up statements
200 WWUS45 KTWC 202210 WSWTWC URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Tucson AZ 310 PM MST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...MAJOR WINTER STORM TO BRING SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL TO THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHEAST ARIZONA THURSDAY AND FRIDAY... AZZ509-211300- /O.EXA.KTWC.WS.W.0002.190222T0600Z-190223T0000Z/ Upper Gila River Valley- Including the city of Clifton 310 PM MST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THURSDAY TO 5 PM MST FRIDAY ABOVE 3500 FEET ... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Plan on difficult travel conditions. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 8 inches. * WHERE...Upper Gila River Valley. * WHEN...11 PM Thursday to 5 PM Friday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Look for significant reductions in visibility at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ AZZ510-511-513>515-211300- /O.CON.KTWC.WS.W.0002.190221T1200Z-190223T0000Z/ White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties- Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains- Dragoon and Mule and Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains- Catalina and Rincon Mountains-Baboquivari Mountains- Including the cities of Hannagan Meadow, Mount Graham, Bisbee, Canelo Hills, Mount Lemmon, and Summerhaven 310 PM MST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM THURSDAY TO 5 PM MST FRIDAY ABOVE 5000 FEET... * WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow expected. Travel will be very difficult to impossible. Tree branches could fall as well. Total snow accumulations of 12 to 24 inches between 5000 feet and 7000 feet and 20 to 40 inches with localized higher amounts above 7000 feet. * WHERE...White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains, Dragoon and Mule and Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains, Catalina and Rincon Mountains and Baboquivari Mountains. * WHEN...5 AM Thursday to 5 PM Friday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will cause widespread blowing and drifting snow. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ AZZ512-211300- /O.CON.KTWC.WS.W.0002.190222T0600Z-190223T0000Z/ Chiricahua Mountains- Including the city of Chiricahua NM 310 PM MST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THURSDAY TO 5 PM MST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow expected. Plan on difficult travel conditions. Damage to trees and power lines is possible. Total snow accumulations of 10 to 16 inches, with localized amounts up to 20 inches, are expected. * WHERE...Chiricahua Mountains. * WHEN...11 PM Thursday to 5 PM Friday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 55 mph will cause widespread blowing and drifting snow. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ AZZ506-211300- /O.CON.KTWC.WS.W.0002.190222T0600Z-190223T0000Z/ Southeast Pinal County- Including the city of Oracle 310 PM MST Wed Feb 20 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THURSDAY TO 5 PM MST FRIDAY ABOVE 3500 FEET... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Plan on difficult travel conditions, including during the morning commute on Friday. Total snow accumulations ranging from 3 to 8 inches between 3500 and 4000 feet and up to 8 to 16 inches in the Oracle area. * WHERE...Southeast Pinal County. * WHEN...11 PM Thursday to 5 PM Friday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Look for significant reductions in visibility at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
778 WWUS45 KTWC 211003 WSWTWC URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Tucson AZ 303 AM MST Thu Feb 21 2019 ...MAJOR WINTER STORM TO BRING SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL TO THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHEAST ARIZONA THURSDAY AND FRIDAY... AZZ507-508-220000- /O.EXA.KTWC.WS.W.0002.190222T0600Z-190223T0000Z/ Upper San Pedro River Valley- Eastern Cochise County below 5000 feet- Including the cities of Sierra Vista and Willcox 303 AM MST Thu Feb 21 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 PM MST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Plan on difficult travel conditions. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 6 inches. * WHERE...Upper San Pedro River Valley and Eastern Cochise County below 5000 feet. * WHEN...11 PM today to 5 PM Friday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Look for significant reductions in visibility at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ AZZ510-511-513>515-220000- /O.CON.KTWC.WS.W.0002.190221T1200Z-190223T0000Z/ White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties- Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains- Dragoon and Mule and Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains- Catalina and Rincon Mountains-Baboquivari Mountains- Including the cities of Hannagan Meadow, Mount Graham, Bisbee, Canelo Hills, Mount Lemmon, and Summerhaven 303 AM MST Thu Feb 21 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Snow developing this morning, then becoming heavy at times this afternoon into Friday. Travel will be very difficult to impossible. Tree branches could fall as well. Total snow accumulations of 12 to 24 inches between 5000 feet and 7000 feet and 20 to 40 inches with localized higher amounts above 7000 feet. * WHERE...White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains, Dragoon and Mule and Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains, Catalina and Rincon Mountains and Baboquivari Mountains. * WHEN...5 AM today to 5 PM Friday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will cause widespread blowing and drifting snow. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ AZZ506-509-512-220000- /O.CON.KTWC.WS.W.0002.190222T0600Z-190223T0000Z/ Southeast Pinal County-Upper Gila River Valley- Chiricahua Mountains- Including the cities of Oracle, Clifton, and Chiricahua NM 303 AM MST Thu Feb 21 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 PM MST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected tonight into Friday. Plan on difficult travel conditions. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 12 inches between 3500 feet and 5000 feet and 12 to 18 inches above 5000 feet are expected. * WHERE...Southeast Pinal County, Upper Gila River Valley and Chiricahua Mountains. * WHEN...11 PM today to 5 PM Friday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Look for significant reductions in visibility at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
150 WWUS45 KTWC 212059 WSWTWC URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Tucson AZ 159 PM MST Thu Feb 21 2019 ...MAJOR WINTER STORM TO BRING SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL TO PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ARIZONA THROUGH FRIDAY... AZZ510-511-513>515-221200- /O.EXT.KTWC.WS.W.0002.000000T0000Z-190223T0300Z/ White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties- Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains- Dragoon and Mule and Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains- Catalina and Rincon Mountains-Baboquivari Mountains- Including the cities of Hannagan Meadow, Mount Graham, Bisbee, Canelo Hills, Mount Lemmon, and Summerhaven 159 PM MST Thu Feb 21 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow occurring. Travel will be very difficult to impossible, including during the morning commute on Friday. Tree branches could fall as well. Total snow accumulations of 10 to 20 inches between 5000 feet and 7000 feet and 20 to 40 inches with localized higher amounts above 7000 feet. * WHERE...White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains, Dragoon and Mule and Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains, Catalina and Rincon Mountains and Baboquivari Mountains. * WHEN...Until 8 PM Friday. The Bisbee area isn't expected to see Winter Storm conditions start until Friday morning. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Look for significant reductions in visibility at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ AZZ506>509-512-221200- /O.EXT.KTWC.WS.W.0002.190222T0600Z-190223T0300Z/ Southeast Pinal County-Upper San Pedro River Valley- Eastern Cochise County below 5000 feet-Upper Gila River Valley- Chiricahua Mountains- Including the cities of Oracle, Sierra Vista, Willcox, Clifton, and Chiricahua NM 159 PM MST Thu Feb 21 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM MST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Plan on difficult travel conditions, including during the evening commute on Friday. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches between 3500 and 4500 feet, 2 to 12 inches between 4500 and 5000 feet with the lower amounts in Cochise County and the highest amounts near Oracle. 8 to 16 inches above 5000 feet is expected with locally higher amounts in the Chiricahuas. * WHERE...Southeast Pinal County, Upper San Pedro River Valley, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 feet, Upper Gila River Valley and Chiricahua Mountains. * WHEN...11 PM today to 8 PM Friday. Winter Storm conditions will not greatly impact the valley floors of Cochise County until late Friday morning. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Look for significant reductions in visibility at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
239 WWUS45 KTWC 221054 WSWTWC URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Tucson AZ 354 AM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 AZZ506>515-222100- /O.CON.KTWC.WS.W.0002.000000T0000Z-190223T0300Z/ Southeast Pinal County-Upper San Pedro River Valley- Eastern Cochise County below 5000 feet-Upper Gila River Valley- White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties- Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains-Chiricahua Mountains- Dragoon and Mule and Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains- Catalina and Rincon Mountains-Baboquivari Mountains- Including the cities of Oracle, Sierra Vista, Willcox, Clifton, Hannagan Meadow, Mount Graham, Chiricahua NM, Bisbee, Canelo Hills, Mount Lemmon, and Summerhaven 354 AM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Heavy snow in the mountains. Expect total snow accumulations in the mountains of 10 to 20 inches between 5000 feet and 7000 feet and 20 to 40 inches with localized higher amounts above 7000 feet. The snow level will lower throughout the day with snow developing as low as 3500 feet. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches between 3500 and 4500 feet with higher amounts above 5000 feet can be anticipated. * WHERE...Portions of Southeast Arizona. * WHEN...Snow was already occuring in the mountains early this morning. The snow level will lower throughout the day bringing snow to higher valley locations like Oracle, Sierra Vista and Willcox by this evening. Snow flurries have already been reported by the public in Oracle and south of Vail on State Route 83 early this morning. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Look for significant reductions in visibility at times, especially in the mountains. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
866 WWUS45 KTWC 222000 WSWTWC URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Tucson AZ 100 PM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 AZZ506>515-230300- /O.CON.KTWC.WS.W.0002.000000T0000Z-190223T0300Z/ Southeast Pinal County-Upper San Pedro River Valley- Eastern Cochise County below 5000 feet-Upper Gila River Valley- White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties- Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains-Chiricahua Mountains- Dragoon and Mule and Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains- Catalina and Rincon Mountains-Baboquivari Mountains- Including the cities of Oracle, Sierra Vista, Willcox, Clifton, Hannagan Meadow, Mount Graham, Chiricahua NM, Bisbee, Canelo Hills, Mount Lemmon, and Summerhaven 100 PM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Heavy snow in the mountains. Expect total snow accumulations in the mountains of 10 to 20 inches between 4500 feet and 7000 feet and 20 to 40 inches with localized higher amounts above 7000 feet. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches between 2000 and 3500 feet with higher amounts above 3500 feet can be anticipated. * WHERE...Portions of Southeast Arizona, mainly east of Tucson. * WHEN...Until 8 PM today. The changeover to snow has occurred across the lower elevations Cochise and Graham Counties and continues in the mountains. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Look for significant reductions in visibility at times, especially in the mountains. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow accumulations are expected. Gusty winds and blowing snow are also possible. This will make travel very difficult or impossible...especially in the mountains. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...commercial television or radio stations...or your cable television service provider for updates on this Winter Storm. && $$ Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
017 WWUS45 KTWC 230303 WSWTWC URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Tucson AZ 803 PM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 AZZ506>515-230415- /O.EXP.KTWC.WS.W.0002.000000T0000Z-190223T0300Z/ Southeast Pinal County-Upper San Pedro River Valley- Eastern Cochise County below 5000 feet-Upper Gila River Valley- White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties- Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains-Chiricahua Mountains- Dragoon and Mule and Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains- Catalina and Rincon Mountains-Baboquivari Mountains- 803 PM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 ...WINTER STORM WARNING HAS EXPIRED... The Winter Storm Warning has been allowed to expire. Any remaining snow showers the rest of tonight will be light with little if any additional snow accumulation expected. $$ Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this winter storm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before this winter storm warning went out at Feb 19, 9:12 PM MST, 6 hours 26 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 19, 9:12 PM MST, 6 hours 26 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 912 PM MST Tue Feb 19 2019 .SYNOPSIS...Cold conditions are on tap for tonight into Wednesday morning, with a brief spell of dry weather. Then, a strong winter storm produces valley rain and substantial mountain snow Thursday and Friday. Dry conditions return by the weekend, with daytime temperatures that gradually warm closer to normal next week. && .DISCUSSION...Drier conditions have settled in across southeast Arizona this evening as the upper trough axis progresses through the eastern Rockies. Satellite imagery shows generally clear skies save for some lingering cloudiness over the White Mountains. The theme for tonight and Wednesday morning shifts toward a widespread hard freeze. Strong cold advection on northwesterly flow combined with sufficient radiative cooling will help produce temperatures well below average for this time of year. A significant winter storm still looks on track for Thursday into Friday as a deep upper low dives down the Great Basin and briefly stalls nearby to our west. For more details on how this system impacts our area, please see the previous discussion below. && .AVIATION...Valid through 22/06Z. Predominantly clear skies except for some lingering cumulus northeast of KSAD across the higher terrain. Surface winds generally remain less than 12 kts, with occasional gusts of 15-20 kts Wednesday afternoon. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...After a short dry spell through Wednesday, a significant winter storm arrives Thursday into Saturday morning with valley rain and heavy mountain snowfall. 20-ft winds become breezy at times, especially Thursday afternoon as southwesterly winds reach 15-25 mph. After Saturday expect dry conditions into the beginning of next week. && .PREV DISCUSSION...The upper trough axis has shifted east into western New Mexico, however, cold air aloft has resulted in isolated instability showers across eastern portions of the forecast area, in Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties. These showers are expected to come to an end early this evening shortly after sunset. Otherwise, daytime highs (so far) have only warmed into the lower 40s to lower 50s across southeast Arizona this afternoon, or 15-20 degrees below normal. Expect rapidly clearing skies this evening, with much colder temperatures tonight. Most (if not all) of southeast Arizona will experience below freezing temperatures. The coldest valleys east and south of Tucson will bottom out in the teens Wednesday morning, with areas from Tucson westward in the mid 20's to around 30 degrees. A Hard Freeze/Freeze warning remains in effect from Tucson west from 11 pm MST tonight through 8 am MST Wednesday morning. Wednesday's high temperatures will warm 2-4 degrees (versus today), but still remain around 15 degrees below normal. Overnight lows Wednesday night/Thursday morning will be up 5-10 degrees as cloud cover from the next system to impact the region begins to overspread the area. Attention then turns a large upper low and major winter storm that will impact the region Thursday into early Saturday. A slight chance of precipitation starts early Thursday morning. Increasing valley rain/mountain snow chances then overspread the area from northwest to southeast during the day Thursday and continue areawide Thursday night and Friday. Have upped POPS/QPF and Snowfall amounts with this system Thursday through Friday. This system will result in widespread lower elevation rainfall, with QPF totals ranging from 0.75" to 1.50". Impressive snowfall totals are expected in the mountains with this system, with one to three feet of snowfall accumulation expected. Overall, looking at 12-18 inches in the Baboquivari, Mule, Huachuca and Chiricahua mountains, with 24-36 inches in the Rincon, Catalina, Santa Rita, Mount Graham and White Mountains. Snow levels start around 5000 feet on Thursday, lowering to near 4500 feet by Friday morning, ending near 3800 feet late Friday. These snow levels mean that locations such as Oracle and Bisbee could end up with 6-12 inches of snowfall. A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for the mountains of southeast Arizona from late morning Thursday through Friday afternoon. Have lowered the Watch down to the 5000 foot level and also included Oracle in Zone 506. Expect gusty winds with this system and that may lead to localized blizzard conditions in the mountains along with blowing and drifting snow. The lower elevations, mainly east and south of Tucson, will also see some accumulating snow Friday night into Saturday morning as snow levels continue to lower on the back side of the system. Well below normal high temperatures continue Thursday into Saturday. The lower deserts from Tucson west could see another Hard Freeze Saturday morning. Dry conditions and warmer temperatures are expected Sunday and Monday, although temperatures will remain below normal. Near normal temperatures make an appearance by the middle of next week as ridge builds across the southwestern United States. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Hard Freeze Warning from 11 PM this evening to 8 AM MST Wednesday for AZZ502-504>506. Freeze Warning from 11 PM this evening to 8 AM MST Wednesday for AZZ501. Winter Storm Watch from Thursday morning through Friday afternoon for AZZ506-510-511-513>515. Winter Storm Watch from Thursday evening through Friday afternoon for AZZ512. && Discussion...Howlett Prev Disc...Zell Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
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Winter Storm Warnings in Arizona, 2019Every winter storm warning in 2019
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.