Arizona, 2014Heavy Snow in Arizona, December 30 to 31, 2014
December 30 to 31, 2014 · NWS FGZ · 7 events in 7 counties and zones
A cold and strong area of low pressure moved southward along the California Coast and became cut off from the jet stream of the southern California Coast. This low brought moisture streaming northward over Arizona.
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.
- 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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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 6
- 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.
A cold and strong area of low pressure moved southward along the California Coast and became cut off from the jet stream of the southern California Coast. This low brought moisture streaming northward over Arizona. Then, the low moved northeastward over Arizona with lowering snow levels. This storm lasted into New Years Day with the bulk of snow falling before midnight. A few higher elevation locations reported an additional 3-4 inches of snow in the New Year. Almost an inch of snow was reported at Phantom Ranch in the bottom of The Grand Canyon.
Heavy Snow, Western Mogollon Rim
- When
- December 30, 11:30 PM MST to December 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Western Mogollon Rim forecast zone
- Injuries
- 0 direct, 6 indirect
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Here are some snowfall totals for New Years Eve (in inches): Mountainaire 17.0, Kachina Village 12.9, Flagstaff Airport 12.7, Doney Park 12, and Williams 10.2. The Flagstaff Police Department reported 63 accidents where vehicles slid right off highways and 23 collisions, three had relatively minor injuries. By the time the snow ended on New Year's Day, Mountainaire had 20 inches and Mormon Lake ended up with 18 inches.
Heavy Snow, Eastern Mogollon Rim
- When
- December 31, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 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)
A trained spotter reported 12 inches of snow just after 300 PM in Clints Well. A spotter one mile east of Forest Lakes reported 9 inches of snow by 700 PM. A spotter in Heber (6500 feet elevation) reported 7 inches of snow by 1000 PM. Blue Ridge Ranger Station reported 14.5 inches of snow.
Heavy Snow, Northern Gila County
- When
- December 31, 2:00 AM MST to 11:59 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)
Trained spotters reported 14 inches of new snow in Pine by 845 PM and 10 inches in Payson by 930 PM. Tonto Village reported 13.5 inches of snow.
Heavy Snow, Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons
- When
- December 31, 3:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.220, -112.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Five and a half inches of snow was reported in Sedona by 500 PM at an elevation around 4500 feet.
Heavy Snow, Marble Canyon and Glen Canyon
- When
- December 31, 8:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Marble Canyon and Glen Canyon forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Three to five inches of snow fell in the Page area...below 5000 feet elevation. Lees Ferry, where most rafting trips start their voyage through the Grand Canyon, received 3 inches of snow at 3,200 feet elevation.
Heavy Snow, Yavapai County Mountains
- When
- December 31, 10:00 AM MST to 10:59 PM MST
- Where
- Yavapai County Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Five to seven inches of snow fell around the Prescott area. Nine inches of snow fell 21 miles southwest of Seligman.
Heavy Snow, Yavapai County Valleys and Basins
- When
- December 31, 11:00 AM MST to 11:59 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)
Three to five inches of snow fell across the lower elevations of Yavapai County in locations that rarely see much measurable snow. Some of the higher amounts (in inches) include Rim Rock 7.0, Cottonwood 7, and Cornville 3.5.
- 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.
- High Wind and Strong Wind in California, December 30 to 31, 20142 deaths · 68 kt wind · 5 events
- Winter Weather and Cold in Nevada, December 30 to 31, 20141 death · $20,000 · 4 events
- Winter Weather in Texas, December 30 to 31, 201415 injured · 16 events
- High Wind and Strong Wind in California, December 30 to 31, 2014$207,000 · 56 kt wind · 53 events
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Arizona, December 30 to 31, 2014$525,000 · 4 events
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, December 30 to 31, 2014$145,000 · 3 events
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in California, December 30 to 31, 2014$60,000 · 3 events
- Heavy Snow and Strong Wind in California, December 30 to 31, 2014$50,000 · 2 events
- Winter Storm in Texas, December 30 to 31, 201421 events
- Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Texas, December 30 to 31, 201420 events
- Extreme Cold in Nebraska, December 30 to 31, 201413 events
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in California, December 30 to 31, 2014$9,000 · 69 kt wind · 12 events
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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 555947, 555948, 555949, 555958, 556127, 555959, 555960.