A cold front moving from California across Arizona brought locally high winds north of the Mogollon Rim.
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 cold front moving from California across Arizona brought locally high winds north of the Mogollon Rim.
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 Mar 4, 10:05 AM MST, 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 1005 AM MST Sun Mar 4 2018 .SYNOPSIS...A cold front crossing northern Arizona today will bring southwest wind gusts from 40 to 55 mph to areas along and north of the Mogollon Rim. There are also chances for rain and snow showers across the high terrain north of Interstate 40 mainly through the morning hours. Expect fair weather tonight. A drying and warming trend is forecast from Monday through Friday. && .DISCUSSION...A trough moving north of the state today is pushing a cold front through our region this morning. The main impact with the system has been gusty winds, though shallow moisture has brought some snow flurries to higher terrain around Flagstaff and Grand Canyon. Deeper moisture over the Kaibab Plateau led to some heavier snow overnight and into this morning (4" at Jacob Lake) and the Winter Weather Advisory was extended until 11 AM there. Snow showers should become confined to the higher terrain of northeast Arizona by early afternoon then ending before sunset. Winds are expected to peak by noon west of a Flagstaff to Page line, but continue through late afternoon east of this line where some gusts 40 to 55 mph are expected. The Wind Advisory for Apache County was extended to 6 PM with no changes made to other areas. Forecast updates were sent earlier this morning to increase snow amounts through 11 AM over the Kaibab Plateau, otherwise no further significant updates needed. Progs in good agreement from Monday through Wednesday showing a shallow ridge of high pressure across the western US. Northern Arizona can expect periods of mid and high level clouds, probably more than less this time around, and a slow warming trend. && .AVIATION...For the 18Z package...Isolated to scattered rain and snow showers will create local MVFR conditions mainly from KFLG north and east. Clearing conditions will work west to east this afternoon. Southwest winds 20-25 kts with gusts 30-40 kts will persist through 00z Mon with the strongest winds northeast of terrain features. Wind speeds will diminish and shift northerly after 00z Mon. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Gusty southwest winds will persist through much of the day light hours today. Gusts of 40-50 mph are expected with the strongest winds northeast of terrain features. Scattered rain and snow showers can be expected mainly north of I-40, diminishing by early evening. Winds will weaken and shift northerly tonight. Temperatures begin to moderate Monday with lighter east-northeast winds. Tuesday through Thursday...Above normal temperatures, light winds, and dry weather is expected for this period. Daytime temperatures are expected to be 5-10 degrees above normal. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...Wind Advisory until 4 PM MST this afternoon FOR AZZ010-011-013-014-016-017-039-040. Wind Advisory until 11 AM MST this morning FOR AZZ005>007-009- 012-015. Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST this morning FOR AZZ004. && PUBLIC...JJ AVIATION...MCT FIRE WEATHER...TPS For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ
701 AM MST SUN MAR 4 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NNW DONEY PARK 35.33N 111.54W
03/04/2018 M55 MPH COCONINO AZ PUBLIC
55 MPH WIND GUST AT FLAGSTAFF LANDFILL.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ
850 AM MST SUN MAR 4 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0830 AM SNOW JACOB LAKE 36.73N 112.21W
03/04/2018 E4.0 INCH COCONINO AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
JACOB LAKE INN REPORT.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The ADOT wind sensor at Two Guns reported wind gust of over 58 MPH from 11 AM to 1240 PM. The peak wind gust was 63 MPH at 1213 PM.
The ASOS at the Springerville Airport reported wind gust over 58 MPH from 230 to 300 PM. The peak wind gust was 62 MPH at 255 PM.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, March 2018
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: 737843, 737868.