Arizona, 2010

Ice Storm in Arizona, December 17 to 23, 2010

December 17 to 23, 2010 · NWS FGZ · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A southwest flow with a relatively shallow moist layer moved over northern Arizona for several days before a cold front swept across the state. The moist layer was below freezing however, the layer was not thick enough or cold enough to allow microphysical dendritical growth to occur.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
13
Property damage
$100,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.

A southwest flow with a relatively shallow moist layer moved over northern Arizona for several days before a cold front swept across the state. The moist layer was below freezing however, the layer was not thick enough or cold enough to allow microphysical dendritical growth to occur. This caused periods of mist at the lower elevations and heavy accumulations of rime ice on trees and radio equipment above about 8500 feet. A cold front ushered in a much thicker layer of moisture, lift, and stronger winds. This brought accumulating snow. Hundreds of trees were brought down by the weight of the ice, snow, and winds.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Western Mogollon Rim

When
December 17, 12:00 AM MST to December 23, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Western Mogollon Rim forecast zone
Injuries
0 direct, 13 indirect
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several days of low clouds, freezing temperatures, and steady winds produced large accumulations of rime ice on trees and radio towers above 8500 feet in the mountains around Flagstaff. Several hundred trees toppled at elevations of 9000 feet in the Kachina Peaks outside of Flagstaff. Radio equipment atop Mt Elden near Flagstaff also sustained damage. Several radio stations were knocked off the air including the NWR. There were 49 traffic accidents due to snowy and ice roads. There were 13 minor injuries. Eight inches of snow fell in Bellmont and 12 miles north of Parks and 6 inches fell at the Flagstaff Airport.

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, December 2010

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 273174.