A relatively strong and cold weather system impacted southeast Arizona New Year's Eve through January 2nd. This storm resulted in heavy snow across area mountain ranges through New Year's Day, especially over 7000 feet in elevation with some locations receiving over a foot of snow.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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 TWC wrote it up.
A relatively strong and cold weather system impacted southeast Arizona New Year's Eve through January 2nd. This storm resulted in heavy snow across area mountain ranges through New Year's Day, especially over 7000 feet in elevation with some locations receiving over a foot of snow. Heavy snow shifted to the lower elevations south and east of Tucson overnight on January 1st and on January 2nd. Snow levels dropped to 2500 feet and snow reports ranged from 2 to 7 inches on the valley floors.
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 Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 31, 9:33 PM MST, 2 hours 27 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Accumulating snow began on the afternoon of December 31. By the morning of January 1 estimated snowfall totals in the White Mountains above 7000 feet were one foot or greater.
Accumulating snow began on the afternoon of December 31. By the morning of January 1 estimated snowfall totals in the Pinaleno Mountains above 7000 feet were one foot or greater.
Accumulating snow began on the afternoon of December 31. By the morning of January 1 estimated snowfall totals in the Catalina and Rincon Mountains above 7000 feet were one foot or greater.
Accumulating snow began early in the morning of January 1. By the morning of January 2 estimated snowfall totals in the Chiricahua Mountains above 7000 feet were one foot or greater.
Snowfall began the afternoon of January 1. 3 inches of snow was common across the area with Willcox reporting 4 inches, Portal 7 inches, Douglas 3 inches, and Paradise 3 inches. There were also reports of accidents on I-10 involving cars or semi's sliding off the road as well as minor crashes.
Snowfall began the afternoon of January 1st and continued into the afternoon of January 2nd. Safford reported 3 inches and Klondike reported 5.5 inches of snow. The snow caused several accidents on Highway 70 between Bylas and San Carlos and was eventually closed.
Accumulating snow began in the afternoon of January 1 and continued into the afternoon of January 2. By the morning of January 2 the Canelo area had received 4 inches of snow.
Heavy snow fell during the early morning hours of January 2nd in Santa Cruz and far southeast sections of Pima County. Snow reports were generally in the 2 to 5 inch range in Vail, Corona De Tucson, Rio Rico, Nogales and Patagonia. However an isolated report of 6 inches was received from Nogales and Kino Springs reported 7 inches. State Route 82 was closed between the Nogales Airport and Patagonia after several vehicles became stuck in the snow, including a jackknifed semi truck.
Heavy snow fell during the early morning hours of January 2nd in Santa Cruz and far southeast sections of Pima County. Snow reports were generally in the 2 to 5 inch range in Vail, Corona De Tucson, Rio Rico, Nogales and Patagonia. However an isolated report of 6 inches was received from Nogales and Kino Springs reported 7 inches. State Route 82 was closed between the Nogales Airport and Patagonia after several vehicles became stuck in the snow, including a jackknifed semi truck.
Snowfall began early in the morning January 2nd. Sierra Vista recorded 3 inches, Benson recorded 3-4 inches, and Huachuca City recorded 3 inches. Several minor accidents were reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, January 2019
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: 796730, 796731, 801155, 801154, 801152, 801153, 801156, 797569, 797570, 801151.