Heavy Snow in Arizona, February 20 to 22, 2019

Name: Heavy Snow in Arizona, February 20 to 22, 2019
Start: 2019-02-20T18:00
End: 2019-02-22T20:30
Location: Arizona

February 20 to 22, 2019 · NWS FGZ · 18 events in 18 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 18 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 18

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 cold, strong, intensifying low pressure system spread a deep blanket of snow over a majority of central and northern Arizona between the evening of February 20th and the night of February 22nd, 2019. Across the Mogollon Rim and other high country regions, reports of two to over three feet of snow were received. Anywhere from a few inches to over a foot of snow fell in the lower deserts and valleys of northern Arizona. These lower elevations may not see accumulating snow for several years at at time. For many locations across central and northern Arizona, this storm was among the top 10 greatest recorded. The single-day snowfall record was broken at Flagstaff Airport and in Show Low. As a result of the heavy snowfall, major roadways were closed, trees were downed and power was lost in local communities. Both the City of Flagstaff and Coconino declared a state of emergency on February Thursday 21.

The radar

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

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Event by event

18 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Black Mesa Area

When: February 20, 6:00 PM MST to February 22, 3:30 PM MST
Where: Black Mesa Area forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.545, -110.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Black Mesa received 8 inches of snow by 11 AM on February 21. Storm total in Forest Lake was 10 inches at 7,200 feet. Blue Gap had a foot of new snow.

Heavy Snow, Kaibab Plateau

When: February 20, 6:00 PM MST to February 22, 3:30 PM MST
Where: Kaibab Plateau forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Lodge at The North Rim of The Grand Canyon reported 22 inches of snow. Ten inches to a foot of snow fell in Jacobs Lake. Fredonia received 5 to 7 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow, Western Mogollon Rim

When: February 20, 6:30 PM MST to February 22, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Western Mogollon Rim forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy snow fell across the Western Mogollon Rim with Flagstaff setting an all time calandar day snowfall record of 35.9 inches of snow on February 21. Other snofall totals include (in inches): Munds Park 43.0, Kachina Village 41.0, Flagstaff Airport 40.8, Mormon Lake 40.0, Williams 38.0, Downtown Flagstaff 29.5, Bellemont (NWS Flagstaff) 26.6, and Winona 18.0. |The storm caused the following to be closed: Flagstaff Unified School District, local charter schools, Coconino Community College, and Northern Arizona University. The city of Flagstaff and Coconino County closed all non-essential offices. Mountain Line bus service in Flagstaff was canceled for the day and flights to and from Flagstaff Pulliam Airport were grounded.

Heavy Snow, Grand Canyon Country

When: February 20, 6:30 PM MST to February 22, 5:00 PM MST
Where: Grand Canyon Country forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A foot of snow was reported above 7000 feet on the South Rim (Desert View) of The Grand Canyon. The Lodge at The North Rim of The Grand Canyon reported 22 inches of snow (at 8,300 feet elevation).

Heavy Snow, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau

When: February 20, 7:00 PM MST to February 22, 3:30 PM MST
Where: Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.396, -109.489 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eight inches of snow accumulated in Window Rock by 330 PM on February 21. Total snow amounts include (in inches): Sawmill 24, Cove 20.0, Fort Defiance 18.5, Window Rock 17.0, and Oak Springs 16.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas From Highway 264 North

When: February 20, 8:30 PM MST to February 22, 2:00 PM MST
Where: Northeast Plateaus and Mesas From Highway 264 North forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.545, -110.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thirteen inches of snow fell 4 miles northwest of Steamboat Canyon. Seven inches of snow fell in Tonalea at 5,600 feet.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Highway 264

When: February 20, 8:30 PM MST to February 22, 2:00 PM MST
Where: Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Highway 264 forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.545, -110.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thirteen inches of snow fell 4 miles northwest of Steamboat Canyon. A public report of 12.75 inches of snow fell near the Teesto Chapter house in Seba Kalkai.

Heavy Snow, Chinle Valley

When: February 20, 9:00 PM MST to February 22, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Chinle Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.398, -109.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snow amounts in the Chile Valley included (in inches): 10 to 11 in Kayenta, 12 in Chinle, and 24 inches in Lukachukai (6,500 feet in an upslope area).

Heavy Snow, Eastern Mogollon Rim

When: February 20, 9:00 PM MST to February 22, 1:00 PM MST
Where: Eastern Mogollon Rim forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.620, -111.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Eastern Mogollon Rim is one of the best upslope areas in northern Arizona. Storm totals (inches) include: Forest Lakes 43.0, Linden 30.0, Heber-Overgaard 24.0, and |Pinedale 24.0.

Heavy Snow, Coconino Plateau

When: February 20, 9:00 PM MST to February 22, 5:30 PM MST
Where: Coconino Plateau forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snowfall 20 miles southwest of Fraziers Well (Grand Canyon Caverns) was 12 to 14 inches. Fourteen inches of snow fell in Ash Fork on southern border of the forecast zone.

Heavy Snow, Yavapai County Mountains

When: February 20, 9:30 PM MST to February 22, 3:00 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)

Iron Springs reported 9.5 inches of new snow by 715 AM on February 21. Total snow amount in the Yavapai Mountains above 5,000 include (in inches): Ponderosa Park 31.0, Prescott Courthouse 28.0, Iron Springs 28.0, Prescott Valley 27.0, 4 W Chino Valley 26.0, Walker 20.0, Jerome 14.0, and Ash Fork 15.0. Twenty-two inches of snow fell in Wilhoit right at 5,000 feet.

Heavy Snow, Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons

When: February 20, 10:30 PM MST to February 22, 4:30 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)

Four inches of snow fell by around 800 AM on February 21 in Sedona around 4,500 feet elevation. Snowfall totals for this zone include (in inches): Sedona 18.0, Village of Oak Creek 15.0, and West Sedona 14.0. In Oak Creek Canyon, 31 inches of snow fell at just above 5,000 feet elevation. Twenty-two inches of snow fell at Slide Rock State Park.

Heavy Snow, Yavapai County Valleys and Basins

When: February 20, 11:30 PM MST to February 22, 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)

Snow started falling late evening on February 20 at elevations below 5000 feet. By 430 AM, 4.5 inches of snow had fallen in Paulden at around 4,400 feet and 5.5 inches in Bagdad by 530 AM at 3,800 feet elevation. Total snow amounts were (inches/elevation in feet): Chino Valley 23/4,800, Bagdad 14.0/3,800, Cordes Junction 14.0/3,600, Cottonwood-Verde Villa 13/3,400, Clarkdale 12.0/ 3,500, Cornville 9.0/ 3,500, Middle Verde 6.0/3,200, Rimrock 5.5/ 3,600, and Black Canyon City 2.0/2,000 (very rare at this elevation). Twenty-two inches of snow fell in Wilhoit right at 5,000 feet.

Heavy Snow, Northern Gila County

When: February 21, 1:00 AM MST to February 22, 2:00 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)

Four inches of snow fell below 5,000 feet (4,880 feet) in Payson by 730 AM on February 21. Total snowfall amounts for this zone (up to 6,000 feet or more along the Mogollon Rim--great upslope!) include (in inches): Washington Park 35.5, Natural Bridge 32.0, 4 miles south of Pine 32, Young 30, Payson 28.0, Pine 25.0, Washington Park 25.0, and Star Valley 25.0.

Heavy Snow, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County

When: February 21, 10:30 AM MST to February 22, 8:30 PM MST
Where: Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.400, -110.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four inches of snow fell in Winslow (4,800 feet above sea level) by 700 AM on February 22. Snowfall totals in this zone include (in inches): Taylor 22.0 (5,800 feet), Snowflake 21.0 (5,600 feet), Winslow 6.0, and Holbrook 5.0 (5,200 feet).

Heavy Snow, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County

When: February 21, 10:30 AM MST to February 22, 8:30 PM MST
Where: Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.620, -111.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four inches of snow fell in Winslow (4,800 feet above sea level) by 700 AM on February 22. The snowfall totals in Winslow was 6.0 inches.

Heavy Snow, White Mountains

When: February 21, 12:00 PM MST to February 22, 1:00 PM MST
Where: White Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.398, -109.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eight inches of snow fell in the White Mountains by around 800 PM on February 21. Storm total fall amounts in the White Mountains include (in inches): Pinetop-Lakeside 24.5, Show Low 24.0, 17 mile south of Vernon, and Alpine 17.5. More than 16 inches fell in Eagar.

Heavy Snow, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County

When: February 21, 12:00 PM MST to February 22, 11:30 AM MST
Where: Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.396, -109.489 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eight inches of snow fell in Eagar by 400 AM on February 22. Other snowfall totals in this zone include (in inches): Concho 13.0, Springerville 10.0, and Vernon 10.0. This zone is in the downslope are of the Eastern Mogollon Rim and White Mountains.

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

Every storm in Arizona in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Arizona, February 2019

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 814198, 814410, 811617, 814409, 814386, 814405, 814406, 814404, 814407, 814408, 814358, 814367, 814345, 814379, 814363, 814365, 814389, 814392.