Arizona, 2018

Heavy Snow in Arizona, December 27 to 28, 2018

December 27 to 28, 2018 · NWS FGZ · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A second storm system moved across northern Arizona less than 3 days after the first one started. This was a colder system that also brought wind and low elevation snow to the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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 second storm system moved across northern Arizona less than 3 days after the first one started. This was a colder system that also brought wind and low elevation snow to the area. The first storm did not produce winter storm conditions or heavy snow criteria.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, White Mountains

When
December 27, 1:00 PM MST to December 28, 3:00 PM MST
Where
White Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
35.398, -109.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eight inches of snow fell in Show Low/Pine Top. Some locations had as much as 10 inches in town.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Mogollon Rim

When
December 27, 3:00 PM MST to December 28, 6:00 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)

Eight inches of snow fell in Forest Lakes during the storm.

Heavy Snow, Chinle Valley

When
December 27, 9:00 PM MST to December 28, 1:00 PM MST
Where
Chinle Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.398, -109.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Pictures on Facebook showed 9 inches of snow in Chilchinbiito at around 5,960 feet elevation. Snow was still falling. Roads were icy and snow-packed.

Heavy Snow, Marble Canyon and Glen Canyon

When
December 28, 12:00 AM MST to 7:00 AM 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)

Four inches of snow fell in Page at an elevation of 4,360.

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 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, December 2018

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: 791365, 791366, 791364, 791362.