A large scale trough of low pressure brought two back to back storms to northern Arizona over much of a four day period. These storms brought close to two feet of new snow over the Western Mogollon Rim at 7000 feet and close to four feet of new snow above 9000 feet.
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.
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 episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.
A large scale trough of low pressure brought two back to back storms to northern Arizona over much of a four day period. These storms brought close to two feet of new snow over the Western Mogollon Rim at 7000 feet and close to four feet of new snow above 9000 feet. The first storm was cold enough to lower the snow level to the floor of the Grand Canyon. The snow level rose to the 7000 foot level for an hour or two with the second storm. Dring this event the Department of Public Safety for northern Arizona responded to 188 slideoffs on highways in the northern region. Officers also responded to 65 collisions, 12 of which involved injury. Two people were transported to Flagstaff Medical Center to be treated for their injuries.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 heavy snow, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rain in the lower elevations of Gila County caused Tonto Creek to be come impassable. Residents were stranded on one side of the creek for several days. Between 400 and 600 people live on one side of the creek and often become stranded when the all three crossings become flooded.
Snow began falling over the area during the afternoon of December 15th. By the morning of December 18th, there was about two feet of new snow on the ground at the 7000 foot level. The snow caused many traffic accidents, power outages, and business/school closures and/or delayed openings. The City of Flagstaff Police responded to 80 slideoffs, 61 non-injury collisions, and nine injury collisions during this event. Coconino County sheriff deputies responded to 35 slideoffs and 10 non-injury collisions. Between Williams and Flagstaff, 10 to 13 inches of snow had fallen by the evening of December 16th. A spotter at near 9000 feet had a storm total of 38 inches. Munds Park had 14 inches of snow by 8 AM on the 16th with snow still falling.
A spotter in Forest Lakes reported 12 inches of snow between 3 PM on December 15 and 9 AM on December 16th.
A spotter 4.5 miles west of Ash Fork reported 12 inches of new snow by noon on December 16th. It was still snowing hard.
Over a foot of new snow fell at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in 24 hours. Observers reported 12 to 15 inches of snow in 24 hours and 4 to 5 inches of snow between 10 PM on the 17 to 6 AM on the 18th. Highway 64 was closed from the Grand Canyon Village to Desert View on the morning of December 18th. The storm knocked out power in Indian Gardens for almost two days.
A foot of snow fell in Valle during this storm.
Eighteen inches of snow fell in Jacob Lake during this storm.
At least 6 inches of snow fell in the Pine-Strawberry area on the 16 of December. Highway 87 was closed until the snow and ice could be cleared.
Heavy snow fell even for lower elevations such as Page at about 4300 feet elevation. Page received about 2.3 inches of snow in less than 12 hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, December 2008
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 141797, 137962, 141226, 141228, 141745, 141746, 141747, 141794, 141731.