Blizzard and Flooding in Arizona, January 21 to 22, 2010

Sixteen hikers were trapped on Sabino Canyon Trail at approximately 11 AM on January 21st after the stream rose above its banks, covering low water crossings. The San Simon and Vamori Washes in the Tohono Oodham Nation rose 1-2 feet out of their banks during the evening of January 21st. Several other washes flowed out of their banks, resulting in barricaded roadways near Saguaro National Park East and West, including East Tucson and Avra Valley. A motorist was trapped in the Canada del Oro Wash near Rancho del Lago at approximately 7 AM on January 22nd. A swift water rescue was performed to rescue the stranded motorist.

High winds caused significant roof damage to several structures in the Tohono Oodham Nation. One residence roof was damaged in Sells, one in Gu Vo, and three more in Hickiwan. The residents of the damaged homes were displaced into shelters. In addition, hundreds of saguaro cacti across the Tohono Oodham Nation were blown over by the damaging winds.

A trained spotter reported near zero visibility in blowing dust at mile marker 210 on Interstate 10.

Several reports of high winds and wind damage were received from Cochise County during the afternoon and evening hours. The ASOS at Fort Huachuca measured a wind gust of 63 mph at 1:55 PM MST. At approximately 6 PM, a 70-foot transmission power pole was downed by the high winds along Buffalo Soldier Trail near Sierra Vista, resulting in a loss of power to approximately half of Sierra Vista. Seven additional power poles were downed near the intersection of Ramsey Road and Highway 92, resulting in power losses to another 500 residences. A trained spotter measured a wind gust of 67 mph at Bisbee at 10:39 PM MST, while another trained spotter measured a wind gust of 78 mph, 6 miles northwest of Pearce-Sunsites, at 11:30 PM MST. Damaging winds downed several trees across Monument Roadway near Chiricahua National Monument.

A trained spotter estimated a wind gust of 94 mph near Ajo at 5:20 PM MST.

High winds resulted in many reports of damage across eastern Pima County. Mesonet at Summerhaven on Mount Lemmon measured a wind gust of 75 mph at 1:37 PM. A power pole was downed near the intersection of Wetmore Road and La Cholla Road in Tucson. Damaging winds tore the roof off a house at Three Points around 3 PM, with the roof landing on a nearby truck. Near Green Valley, several traffic signals were damaged at Duval Mine and La Canada Roads, and at Calle Verde and Nogales Highway. More traffic signals were damaged by the high winds in Sahuarita, on Sahuarita Boulevard. High winds downed several power lines in Oro Valley, and several trees in Sahuarita during the late afternoon hours. Just southeast of Sahuarita, the winds caused partial roof damage to a pecan processing plant. |A large tree was downed, falling into a house near 9500 East Harrison Circle in east Tucson at approximately 5 PM. High winds damaged a parking awning at an apartment complex at Ina and Mona Lisa in Tucson. Another tree was downed by the winds near Congress and Grande. Throughout the evening hours, numerous trees and power lines were downed on Mount Lemmon near Summerhaven. Frequent wind gusts near 70 mph on Mount Lemmon resulted in a complete power outage on the mountain.

A trained spotter reported near zero visibility due to blowing dust in Avra Valley, along Pump Station Road. The air traffic control tower at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base reported 1/4 mile visibility in blowing dust.

High winds overturned an empty tractor trailer on Interstate 10 near Picacho.

Heavy snowfall of 12 to 20 inches combined with low visibility and strong winds to result in blizzard conditions across Northern Greenlee County.

Damaging thunderstorm winds downed the main transmission power line on the Tohono Oodham Nation, at approximately 9 PM. A major power failure resulted, affecting over 15,000 people. Mesonet at Sasabe measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph at 9:33 PM MST.

Mount Hopkins RAWS, which is 3 miles south of Madera Canyon, measured a wind gust of 63 mph at 1:19 AM MST.

Storm total snow accumulations up to 36 deep occurred at the top of Mt. Graham with wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph, which led to near zero visibilities in blowing snow.

The telescopes on Mt. Lemmon at 9100 feet had at least 12 inches of snow. This combined with strong wind resulted in low visibility and blowing snow producing blizzard conditions.

Blizzard conditions occurred on the mountains above 7000 feet in Santa Cruz County.

The RAWS at Guthrie measured a 69 mph wind gust at 12:04 AM MST.

Graham County law enforcement performed two swift water rescues just south of Safford during the late evening hours of January 21st. Deputies responded at 10:15 PM to a truck caught in a wash on Chastain Lane, just north of Highway 366. Law enforcement rescued the motorist of the truck. There were no injuries, but the truck was fully engulfed by the water. At approximately the same time, law enforcement spotted a van stuck in Stockton Wash, along Stockton Road south of Roper Lake. The occupants of the van exited the vehicle and waded to safety, before the van was washed further down Stockton Wash.

Blizzard conditions occurred on the Chiricahua Mountains above 7000 feet in Cochise County.

Damaging thunderstorm winds downed power lines which fell on top of several mobile homes on North Shannon Road in northwest Tucson. A total of six houses were evacuated. A small fire started in one mobile home, burning the attic and causing smoke damage to the interior of the house. A tree approximately one foot in diameter was downed by thunderstorm winds near the intersection of Oracle Road and Wilds Road.

The Blue River upstream from Clifton rose out of its banks. The river was still above bankfull at 8 AM MST.