A strong trough just off the Pacific Northwest coast moved across Arizona with high winds over northern parts of the state.
Every event with a place to put it; 15 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 strong trough just off the Pacific Northwest coast moved across Arizona with high winds over northern parts of the state.
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 14, 8:34 PM MST, 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 834 PM MST Tue Dec 14 2021 .SYNOPSIS...A potent winter storm system will move into Arizona this evening through Wednesday morning. Areas of rain and snow are expected, especially overnight lasting into early Wednesday morning, along with strong and possibly damaging winds. Snow and blowing snow will result in hazardous travel conditions tonight into Wednesday morning. A quieter, but still chilly, period is expected into this weekend. && .UPDATE...A powerful cold front is making its way through Mohave county at this time and has just passed through Kingman where a 61 mph wind gust was reported. Multiple stations in Mohave county are reporting 0.25 to 0.50 inch of precipitation over the past 3 hours which is well on track with precipitation forecasts for this potent frontal system. Areas from Flagstaff westward are starting to report light rain or mixed rain/snow showers. Precipitation will increase over the next couple of hours as the heavier band of precipitation moves into Coconino/Yavapai counties. Forecast trends are on track with only minimal updates made this evening. Southerly winds will also increase as the front approaches and the strongest winds are yet to come tonight. High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories remain in effect through Wednesday morning, as well as Winter Storm Warnings for areas above 6500 ft. && .PREV DISCUSSION /154 PM MST/ ... Short Term (through 5 PM Wednesday)... A fast moving but potent winter storm system remains on track to impact northern and central Arizona this evening through early Wednesday morning, bringing dangerous travel conditions to the high country in snow and blowing snow. This system is also packing unusually strong winds, with speeds of 55-70kts near the 700 mb level (around 10k ft msl). Winds have already increased this afternoon with gusts close to 40 mph widespread. As the cold front approaches, expect these winds to increase further, and High Wind Warnings are in effect for nearly all of northern Arizona through early Wednesday morning for gusts of 55 to 70 mph. There will also be a 4-6 hour period of precipitation with this front, affecting Coconino and Yavapai Counties later this evening through around 5 am, then Gila, Navajo, and Apache Counties after midnight through around 5 to 8 am. Snowfall rates of 1-2+ inch/hour are likely along the front mainly above 5000-6000 ft, with the heaviest accumulation above 6500 feet. This will combine with blowing snow to create very hazardous travel. Adjusting travel plans to avoid these conditions is strongly recommended. The good news about this system is that it looks like it will end pretty quickly Wednesday morning, and the High Wind and Winter Storm Warnings have been adjusted to end at 5 AM for Yavapai/Coconino, and then by 8 AM for Gila/Apache/Navajo counties. There won't be much melting at the higher elevations Wednesday afternoon with highs only expected to get to near freezing above 6500 ft including Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon South Rim. Long Term (Wednesday Night through Monday night)... The much decreased wind speeds, fresh snowfall and all but periods of high-based partly cloudy skies will help to drop temperatures with the cold air mass left behind. The coldest temperatures are expected along and north of the Mogollon Rim, including much of the Navajo Nation Wednesday night where teens to localized single digits are forecast. Chilly daytime temperatures persist into the rest of this work week and even into the weekend with a backdoor cold front moving southward Thursday night. Winds shift northerly to northeasterly behind the dry cold front and will cause elevated overnight winds Friday night immediately along and south of the Rim. There could be some cold wind chill values in Flagstaff Friday night. Those winds then decrease by Saturday afternoon and shift westerly to southwesterly into Sunday. This change in flow aloft out ahead of an advancing trough towards the central and northern California coast is expected to then help warm temperatures into early next week. At this stage, expect dry conditions at least through next Monday night after the system tonight into Wednesday early morning. && For the 06Z package...Widespread rain and snow showers will move west to east tonight along a strong cold front causing MVFR to LIFR conditions. Mountain areas including KFLG and KGCN will see a few hours of very low visibility in +SN and BLSN. Southerly wind gusts of 45-55 kts are expected through the overnight hours as the cold front moves through. Winds will shift to the southwest behind the front while snow levels quickly fall to around 4,500 ft. Conditions begin to improve from west to east after 12z, with most areas returning to VFR after 15Z. Southwest winds will gradually decrease after 12-15Z Wednesday. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Heavy showers and strong winds will move from west to east across northern Arizona tonight, with widespread wetting rains forecast. Much cooler temperatures, clearing skies and decreasing winds are forecast for Wednesday and again Thursday. Friday through Sunday...Dry and chilly conditions are expected. North-northeast winds on Friday and Saturday shift southwesterly by Sunday. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...High Wind Warning until 5 AM MST Wednesday FOR AZZ007-008-015. Winter Storm Warning until 5 AM MST Wednesday FOR AZZ015-016. Wind Advisory until 5 AM MST Wednesday FOR AZZ004>006-037-038. High Wind Warning until 8 AM MST Wednesday FOR AZZ009>014-016- 017-039-040. Winter Storm Warning from 11 PM this evening to 8 AM MST Wednesday FOR AZZ011-017-039. Wind Advisory until 8 AM MST Wednesday FOR AZZ018. Winter Storm Warning until 5 AM MST Wednesday FOR AZZ004. && PUBLIC...MCT/NL AVIATION...MCT FIRE WEATHER...JJ For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
15 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A 12 foot portion of a new porch roof attached to a house was removed by the strong winds around 1000 PM four miles southwest of Valle.
A weather station on Highway 260 near the junction of Highway 273 reported a peak wind gust of 68 MPH at 1043 PM and a stronger wind gust of 75 MPH at 243 AM. Wind gusts exceeded 58 MPH between 920 PM and 400 AM. Nearby Greens Peak measured wind gusts 58 MPH or higher between 145 AM and 245 AM. The peak wind gust there at 10118 feet elevation was 66 MPH at 149 AM. The Show Low Airport had a peak wind gust of 61 MPH at 135 AM. At least seven homes were without power in the Pinetop-Lakeside area due to the winds.
A wind sensor at Snowbowl had a peak wind gust of 67 MPH at an elevation of around 9,300 feet. Another sensor at 9969 feet had a peak wind gust of 61 MPH at 950 PM. A wind sensor 5 miles west-southwest of Williams along Interstate 40 had a peak wind gust 68 MPH at 1023 PM. Williams Airport (KCMR) had a peak wind gust of 59 MPH at 1015 PM. The Flagstaff Airport had a peak wind gust of 59 MPH at 1110 PM. Over 1000 costumers in the Doney Park area were with out power as a result of the high winds.
The St Johns Airport reported a peak wind gust of 59 MPH at 230 AM MST. The Springerville Airport had a peak wind gust of 61 MPH at 1015 PM. The wind continued to gust above there 58 MPH from 615 PM until 145 AM.
The Sedona Airport recorded a peak wind gust of 59 MPH at 955 PM.
The Humbug Creek RAWS had wind gust over 58 MPH between 1020 PM and around 230 AM. The peak wind gust was 76 MPH at 148 AM. The wind blew down power lines two miles west-northwest of Prescott at 1253 AM and two miles south of Iron Springs at 101 AM.
A weather station in Page had peak wind gusts of 63 MPH from 1106 to 11016 PM MST. The wind gusts were at least 58 MPH from from 1052 TO 1116 PM. The wind gusts briefly picked up to 60 MPH around 248 AM and even stronger from 430 to 700 AM. The peak wind gust after midnight was 67 MPH at 634 AM.
Limestone Canyon RAWS had wind gusts over 58 MPH from 1220 AM to 330 AM. The peak wind gust of 72 MPH was at 124 AM. The Mogollon Airpark had a peak wind gust of 60 MPH at 1235 AM.
The ADOT wind sensor on Highway 77 (mile marker 14) wind gust higher than 58 MPH between around 300 AM and 330 AM. The highest wind gust was 65 MPH at 320 AM. The peak wind gust at the Taylor Airport was 59 MPH at 115 AM. A wind sensor along Interstate 40 near Jackrabbit (MM270) reported a peak wind gust of 59 MPH at 223 AM. Power outages due to the wind (power lines down) were reported in Joseph City around 220 AM.
A wind sensor at Tuzigoot National Monument measured a peak wind gust of 58 MPH at 121 AM. The wind blew down power lines 13 miles northwest of Paulden at 341 AM.
The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority reported power outages due to downed and/or damaged power lines in Dennehotso, Kayenta, Many Farms, Nazlini, and Tsaile.
The Window Rock Airport reported sustained winds of 40 MPH and higher between 245 and 255 AM MST. The peak wind gust was 64 MPH at 253 AM. The ADOT wind sensor along I-40 at Lupton measured wind gusts above 58 MPH between 230 and 300 AM. The peak wind gust was 77 MPH at 233 AM. Power outages from damaged and/or downed power lines were reported in Nazlini, Hunters Point, Ganado Lakes area, and form Tsaile to Wheatfields (for over 6 hours).
Strong winds blew down power lines on Second Mesa between 250 and 300 AM. Other communities that were also without power include: Kaibeto, The Gap, Tsegi, Shonto, Pi on, and Inscription.
Strong winds blew down power lines on Second Mesa at 253 AM. Power was also knocked out in the communities of Dilkon, Jeddito, and Indian Wells reported around 730 AM.
High winds blew down power poles 3 miles northwest of Gray Mountain at 326 AM. Wind gusts to 57 MPH were reported in Tuba City between 325 and 335 AM.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, December 2021
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: 991426, 991099, 991098, 991101, 991100, 991102, 991097, 991194, 991195, 991418, 991422, 991188, 991420, 991421, 991419.