A large trough of low pressure from the Pacific moved across the Western States with three distinct short wave troughs impacting northern Arizona. This storm system brought widespread rain and snow to the area.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 large trough of low pressure from the Pacific moved across the Western States with three distinct short wave troughs impacting northern Arizona. This storm system brought widespread rain and snow to the area. The heaviest snow fell over the Mogollon Rim at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
The snow total for this 72 hour event was between 6 and 8.5 inches in the Forest Lakes area.
Ten inches of snow was reported at 10,800 feet above mean sea level. Four to 6 inches of snow was reported around Williams and Flagstaff areas. Eight inches of snow was reported in Munds Park. The heaviest snow fell late afternoon and early evening on Sunday--a very heavy travel day after Thanksgiving and again Monday afternoon and evening. Area law enforcement officials reported the following with this event: 177 crashes and motorist assists (7 injuries) for Arizona Highway Patrol, 83 crashes (10 injuries) for Flagstaff Police, 28 crashes and motorist assist for Coconino County Sheriff, 5 crashes for Northern Arizona University Police. Interstate 17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix was blocked for periods of time because of wrecks and road conditions. There were also wrecks on Interstate 40, Highway 180, and Highway 89.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, November 2016
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: 662010, 662016.