Arizona, 1997

Winter Storm in Arizona, December 21 to 23, 1997

December 21 to 23, 1997 · NWS FGZ · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

8 winter storm, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, White Mountains / X Se Navajo, X S Apache

When
December 21, 6:00 PM MST to December 23, 3:00 AM MST
Where
White Mountains / X Se Navajo, X S Apache forecast zone
Coordinates
35.398, -109.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A major winter storm hit most of Northern Arizona on December 21 and 22. Heavy snow and blowing snow, closed several state roads along the Mogollon Rim through the period. Snow totals, by zone, included: White Mountains................... 8-20 inches. Western Mogollon Rim.......... 10-20 inches. Eastern Mogollon Rim........... 10-18 inches. Yavapai County (above 5000 ft.) 10-15 inches. Grand Canyon Country.......... 6-12 inches. Kaibab Plateau..................... 6 - 8 inches. Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau...... 6 - 8 inches. Northeast Plateaus and Mesas 6 - 8 inches.

Winter Storm, Western Mogollon Rim / Sc Coconino

When
December 21, 6:00 PM MST to December 23, 3:00 AM MST
Where
Western Mogollon Rim / Sc Coconino forecast zone
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A major winter storm hit most of Northern Arizona on December 21 and 22. Heavy snow and blowing snow, closed several state roads along the Mogollon Rim through the period. Snow totals, by zone, included: White Mountains................... 8-20 inches. Western Mogollon Rim.......... 10-20 inches. Eastern Mogollon Rim........... 10-18 inches. Yavapai County (above 5000 ft.) 10-15 inches. Grand Canyon Country.......... 6-12 inches. Kaibab Plateau..................... 6 - 8 inches. Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau...... 6 - 8 inches. Northeast Plateaus and Mesas 6 - 8 inches.

Winter Storm, Eastern Mogollon Rim / Se Coconino, X S Navajo T X Se

When
December 21, 6:00 PM MST to December 23, 3:00 AM MST
Where
Eastern Mogollon Rim / Se Coconino, X S Navajo T X Se forecast zone
Coordinates
35.620, -111.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A major winter storm hit most of Northern Arizona on December 21 and 22. Heavy snow and blowing snow, closed several state roads along the Mogollon Rim through the period. Snow totals, by zone, included: White Mountains................... 8-20 inches. Western Mogollon Rim.......... 10-20 inches. Eastern Mogollon Rim........... 10-18 inches. Yavapai County (above 5000 ft.) 10-15 inches. Grand Canyon Country.......... 6-12 inches. Kaibab Plateau..................... 6 - 8 inches. Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau...... 6 - 8 inches. Northeast Plateaus and Mesas 6 - 8 inches.

Winter Storm, Yavapai

When
December 21, 6:00 PM MST to December 23, 3:00 AM MST
Where
Yavapai forecast zone
Coordinates
34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A major winter storm hit most of Northern Arizona on December 21 and 22. Heavy snow and blowing snow, closed several state roads along the Mogollon Rim through the period. Snow totals, by zone, included: White Mountains................... 8-20 inches. Western Mogollon Rim.......... 10-20 inches. Eastern Mogollon Rim........... 10-18 inches. Yavapai County (above 5000 ft.) 10-15 inches. Grand Canyon Country.......... 6-12 inches. Kaibab Plateau..................... 6 - 8 inches. Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau...... 6 - 8 inches. Northeast Plateaus and Mesas 6 - 8 inches.

Winter Storm, Kaibab Plateau / X Nw Coconino

When
December 21, 6:00 PM MST to December 23, 3:00 AM MST
Where
Kaibab Plateau / X Nw Coconino forecast zone
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A major winter storm hit most of Northern Arizona on December 21 and 22. Heavy snow and blowing snow, closed several state roads along the Mogollon Rim through the period. Snow totals, by zone, included: White Mountains................... 8-20 inches. Western Mogollon Rim.......... 10-20 inches. Eastern Mogollon Rim........... 10-18 inches. Yavapai County (above 5000 ft.) 10-15 inches. Grand Canyon Country.......... 6-12 inches. Kaibab Plateau..................... 6 - 8 inches. Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau...... 6 - 8 inches. Northeast Plateaus and Mesas 6 - 8 inches.

Winter Storm, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau / Ne Apache

When
December 21, 6:00 PM MST to December 23, 3:00 AM MST
Where
Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau / Ne Apache forecast zone
Coordinates
35.396, -109.489 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A major winter storm hit most of Northern Arizona on December 21 and 22. Heavy snow and blowing snow, closed several state roads along the Mogollon Rim through the period. Snow totals, by zone, included: White Mountains................... 8-20 inches. Western Mogollon Rim.......... 10-20 inches. Eastern Mogollon Rim........... 10-18 inches. Yavapai County (above 5000 ft.) 10-15 inches. Grand Canyon Country.......... 6-12 inches. Kaibab Plateau..................... 6 - 8 inches. Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau...... 6 - 8 inches. Northeast Plateaus and Mesas 6 - 8 inches.

Winter Storm, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas / Ne Coconino / N & C Navajo, C Apache

When
December 21, 6:00 PM MST to December 23, 3:00 AM MST
Where
Northeast Plateaus and Mesas / Ne Coconino / N & C Navajo, C Apache forecast zone
Coordinates
35.545, -110.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A major winter storm hit most of Northern Arizona on December 21 and 22. Heavy snow and blowing snow, closed several state roads along the Mogollon Rim through the period. Snow totals, by zone, included: White Mountains................... 8-20 inches. Western Mogollon Rim.......... 10-20 inches. Eastern Mogollon Rim........... 10-18 inches. Yavapai County (above 5000 ft.) 10-15 inches. Grand Canyon Country.......... 6-12 inches. Kaibab Plateau..................... 6 - 8 inches. Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau...... 6 - 8 inches. Northeast Plateaus and Mesas 6 - 8 inches.

Winter Storm, Grand Canyon Country / Wc Coconino

When
December 21, 6:00 PM MST to December 23, 3:00 AM MST
Where
Grand Canyon Country / Wc Coconino forecast zone
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A major winter storm hit most of Northern Arizona on December 21 and 22. Heavy snow and blowing snow, closed several state roads along the Mogollon Rim through the period. Snow totals, by zone, included: White Mountains................... 8-20 inches. Western Mogollon Rim.......... 10-20 inches. Eastern Mogollon Rim........... 10-18 inches. Yavapai County (above 5000 ft.) 10-15 inches. Grand Canyon Country.......... 6-12 inches. Kaibab Plateau..................... 6 - 8 inches. Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau...... 6 - 8 inches. Northeast Plateaus and Mesas 6 - 8 inches.

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, December 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5623581, 5623582, 5623638, 5623639, 5623640, 5623641, 5623642, 5623676.