Arizona, 2013

Heavy Snow in Arizona, February 20 to 21, 2013

February 20 to 21, 2013 · NWS FGZ · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A deep and cold upper level low pressure center move southeast along the West Coast then eastward across Arizona. This brought areas of heavy snow to much of the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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 deep and cold upper level low pressure center move southeast along the West Coast then eastward across Arizona. This brought areas of heavy snow to much of the area. Several weaker disturbances followed the main low with a continuation of snow showers with locally heavy accumulations.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Flagstaff, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 19, 4:15 PM MST, 10 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 19, 4:15 PM MST, 10 hours 30 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 19, 6:43 AM MST, 20 hours 2 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Western Mogollon Rim

When
February 20, 2:45 AM MST to February 21, 7:00 PM 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)

Eight inches of snow fell in Munds Park at an elevation of around 6500 feet.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Mogollon Rim

When
February 20, 3:00 AM MST to February 21, 8:00 PM 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)

Forest Lakes received 12 inches of snow. Nine inches of snow was reported in Blue Ridge.

Heavy Snow, Northern Gila County

When
February 20, 4:00 AM MST to February 21, 7:30 PM MST
Where
Northern Gila County forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
33.800, -110.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong upslope flow enhanced snowfall over Northern Gila County along the Mogollon Rim. Snowfall amounts (in inches) include: Strawberry/Pine 8-10, Payson 6-9, Tonto Village 8.5, and Whispering Pines 8-9.

Heavy Snow, Yavapai County Valleys and Basins

When
February 20, 6:00 AM MST to February 21, 2:30 PM MST
Where
Yavapai County Valleys and Basins forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Six inches of snow fell in Rimrock at an elevation of around 3600 feet.

Heavy Snow, White Mountains

When
February 20, 6:00 AM MST to February 21, 10:00 PM MST
Where
White Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
35.398, -109.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sixteen inches of snow fell at Sunrise Ski Resort. Twelve inches of snow was reported 10 miles west of Greer.

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, February 2013

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 438086, 438089, 438088, 438087, 438090.