Arizona, 2008Heavy Snow in Arizona, December 22 to 23, 2008
December 22 to 23, 2008 · NWS FGZ · 7 events in 6 counties and zones
The first in a series of winter storms brought significant snowfall to portions of Northern Arizona from the afternoon of December 22 through early morning of December 23. The heaviest snow from this system fell across the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains with Flagstaff receiving 7 to 10 inches of new snow and the Arizona Snowbowl received 12 to 16 inches.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Floods
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- Hail
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- Heat and drought
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 7
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 first in a series of winter storms brought significant snowfall to portions of Northern Arizona from the afternoon of December 22 through early morning of December 23. The heaviest snow from this system fell across the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains with Flagstaff receiving 7 to 10 inches of new snow and the Arizona Snowbowl received 12 to 16 inches.
Heavy Snow, Western Mogollon Rim
- When
- December 22, 2:00 PM MST to December 23, 8:00 AM MST
- Where
- Western Mogollon Rim forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Nine to ten inches of new snow fell in Flagstaff from the afternoon of December 22 to the morning of the 23rd. Eight to ten inches of fell in Williams and Parks. Six inches fell at Sunset Crater visitors center. Snow and blowing snow closed a 15 mile section (mile post 235 to 250) of Highway 180 near Kendrick Park north of Flagstaff on the way to the Grand Canyon. The Flagstaff Police department responded to 49 vehicle collisions and 30 motorist assists.
Heavy Snow, Black Mesa Area
- When
- December 22, 4:00 PM MST to December 23, 6:00 AM MST
- Where
- Black Mesa Area forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 35.545, -110.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Five to six inches of snow fell. Highway 264 was icy.
Heavy Snow, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County
- When
- December 22, 4:00 PM MST to December 23, 8:00 AM MST
- Where
- Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.396, -109.489 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Four to five inches of snow fell in Cancho.
Heavy Snow, Eastern Mogollon Rim
- When
- December 22, 6:00 PM MST to December 23, 9:00 AM MST
- Where
- Eastern Mogollon Rim forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.620, -111.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Twelve inches of snow fell with this storm in Show Low and Forest Lakes. The snow was also drifting in places.
Heavy Snow, Black Mesa Area
- When
- December 22, 6:00 PM MST to December 23, 10:00 AM MST
- Where
- Black Mesa Area forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 35.545, -110.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Twelve inches of snow fell in the Chuska Mountains near Ft Defiance above 7000 feet and four inches of snow fell below 7000 feet.
Heavy Snow, White Mountains
- When
- December 22, 6:30 PM MST to December 23, 7:00 AM MST
- Where
- White Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 35.398, -109.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Fifteen inches of snow fell overnight in Pinetop.
Heavy Snow, Northern Gila County
- When
- December 22, 10:00 PM MST to December 23, 8:00 AM MST
- Where
- Northern Gila County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 33.800, -110.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Five to six inches of snow fell in Christopher Creek and Kohls Ranch.
- Heavy Snow
- Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, December 22 to 23, 20084 events
- Winter Storm in Colorado, December 22 to 23, 20083 events
- Cold in Pennsylvania, December 22, 20082 events
- Cold in New York, December 22, 20082 events
- Heavy Snow in Oregon, December 22, 20082 events
- High Wind in Kansas, December 22, 200853 kt wind · 2 events
- Winter Storm in Montana, December 22 to 23, 20081 event
- High Wind in Oklahoma, December 22, 200851 kt wind · 1 event
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: 139201, 139196, 139203, 139199, 139202, 139198, 139197.