A weak short wave moved across Arizona while a stronger short wave moved across the Great Basin. Strong southwest winds produced substantial orographic uplift along the southwest facing slopes of higher terrain features of northern Arizona.
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.
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 weak short wave moved across Arizona while a stronger short wave moved across the Great Basin. Strong southwest winds produced substantial orographic uplift along the southwest facing slopes of higher terrain features of northern Arizona. The result was moderate to locally heavy snow across the area.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Sunrise Ski Park reported 13 inches of snow and Alpine had 6 to 8 inches of snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, January 2012
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: 360679.