A cold front brought gusty winds to much of northern Arizona on 28 December. The strongest winds were felt along the Mogollon Rim in the White Mountains.
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The episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.
A cold front brought gusty winds to much of northern Arizona on 28 December. The strongest winds were felt along the Mogollon Rim in the White Mountains.
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 Dec 28, 9:41 AM MST, 3 hours 43 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 941 AM MST Mon Dec 28 2020 .SYNOPSIS...An approaching storm system will bring gusty southwest winds today. Chances for rain and snow will increase from west to east this afternoon and into tonight as the storm moves across Arizona, with lingering showers expected on Tuesday. Dry conditions will return on Wednesday, with another cold front due late Thursday into Friday. && .UPDATE...Current forecast is on track with very strong winds ahead of a cold front which will cross northern AZ this afternoon and overnight. The bulk of the accumulating precipitation with this system will fall along (and just behind) the front, with 2-4 hours of moderate precipitation (and some heavier embedded showers) with the frontal passage. This is a cold system, and light snow accumulations could occur down to 4500' with this event. In any case, roads will become quite slick later this afternoon and overnight with the anticipated 1-3+" of snowfall at the higher elevations. Precipitation will become showery behind the front overnight, and continue into Tuesday with only light accumulations expected. Only minor forecast updates planned at this time. && .PREV DISCUSSION /256 AM MST/...Lingering areas of flurries and sprinkles will continue to diminish through the early morning hours. No impacts are anticipated on area roadways from the light precipitation. The main story will be an approaching storm system set to bring gusty southwest winds and light snow accumulations to the region this afternoon through Tuesday. There has been little change to the wind forecast with gusts of 40 to 55 mph along and northeast of the Mogollon Rim this afternoon as the pressure gradient tightens ahead of the front. A Wind Advisory remains in effect for these areas from Noon through 6pm MST. A large majority of the shower activity will be associated with the frontal passage late this afternoon into tonight. Latest model guidance has once again trended down in terms of QPF totals. Therefore, we have trimmed forecast snow amounts down with this forecast package. In general, 1-3 inches of snow are forecast above 5000-5500 feet. Behind the front, we will see snow levels fall as low as 4000 feet tonight and early Tuesday. While these areas may see some flakes in the air, nothing more than a dusting is expected. Cold air aloft will bring continued shower activity through Tuesday afternoon, but additional accumulation during the daylight hours should be fairly minimal in most locations. Look for cold overnight conditions Tuesday into Wednesday with locally breezy northeast winds and fresh snow cover. Another front will push through the region later Thursday into Friday. However, this system looks to be moisture starved with only a quick round of light snowfall north of I-40. Behind the system, expect another shot of cold air and breezy northerly winds. A weak ridge of high pressure looks to build in for the weekend with quiet weather returning. && .AVIATION...For the 18Z package...A cold front will move across the area from west to east through 12Z Tuesday. Expect deteriorating ceilings and visibilities in -SHRA/-SHSN along the frontal band. Periods of IFR conditions are likely at higher terrain sites. Surface winds will remain strong through the afternoon, with S-SW winds from 15-30 kts and gusts from 25-45 kts. The highest wind speeds are expected to be for areas from Flagstaff eastward. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...A cold front will move across the state this from west to east afternoon through Tuesday morning with increasing southwest winds. Isolated to scattered showers this morning will increse as the front moves through the area. Many areas will see wetting rain or snow from tonight through Tuesday. Lighter west-northwest winds are expected Tuesday behind the front. Wednesday through Friday...Mainly dry, but with some light snow possible on Thursday and Thursday night in the Four Corners area. Highs around 5 degrees below normal. Modest west through north winds are forecast. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...Wind Advisory until 6 PM MST this evening FOR AZZ011>017-039-040. && PUBLIC...BAK/TPS AVIATION...RR FIRE WEATHER...BAK For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Limestone Canyon RAWS measured wind gust over 58 MPH from 124 PM to 424 PM. The peak wind gust of 61 MPH was measured at 324 PM.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, December 2020
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: 932243.