A winter storm impacted southeast Arizona for New Years Eve into New Years Day 2022. This produced in excess of 1 foot of snow across the higher elevations of mountain ranges north of Interstate 10.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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 winter storm impacted southeast Arizona for New Years Eve into New Years Day 2022. This produced in excess of 1 foot of snow across the higher elevations of mountain ranges north of Interstate 10. Wind gusts to 35 mph accompanied the snow at times, but no significant blowing or drifting snow was reported. The strongest winds were farther south and east where gusts of 40 to 50 mph occurred in showers and thunderstorms. Rain was widespread in valley locations with one to two inches common. Some foothills and mid slope areas received over 3 inches of rainfall, but no significant flooding was reported.
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, 3:55 AM MST, 5 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...correction National Weather Service Tucson AZ 355 AM MST Fri Dec 31 2021 .SYNOPSIS...An approaching strong winter storm will spread scattered showers widespread showers today into Saturday morning as we turn the calendar from 2021 to 2022. Significant snow is likely above about 7,000 ft this afternoon through Saturday morning. Sunday morning could be the coldest of the season, with dry weather and a warming trend next week. && .DISCUSSION...It will be rather wet across southeast Arizona as we turn the calendar from 2021 to 2022. Satellite imagery this morning showed an upper low west of northern Baja with an impressive moisture plume extending from southern Arizona to off southern Baja. Radar showed a steady rain across Santa Cruz into SW Cochise county as of 3 am, with scattered showers elsewhere. Expect showers or period of steady rain to expand across the area today as the upper low approaches from the S/SW. Can't rule out a rumble or two of thunder. Mountain cameras showing snow or mixed rain and snow this morning with periods of heavy snow occurring later today into tonight. The snow level will be mostly above 7500 feet today before falling to 6000 feet later tonight into Saturday morning as the upper low moves across the area. Showers gradually ending from west to east with a few around the eastern areas Saturday afternoon as second system moves across the area from the NW. Might see some ice pellets/small hail with some of the heavier showers Saturday morning. Storm total liquid QPF mostly between 0.50" to 1.10". Total snow accumulations of 12 to 24 inches above 8000 feet and 6 to 18 inches between 6500 and 8000 feet for the mountain ranges from Tucson NE to the Whites. Snow amounts will be less S and SE of Tucson. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for the Sky Islands. A colder air mass and clearing skies will bring widespread freezing temperatures to the area Sunday morning with a hard freeze possible for portions of Tucson up toward Casa Grande. Went ahead and hoisted a Hard Freeze Watch for this area and also hoisted a Freeze Watch for central Pima county. Isolated areas across western Pima county will see a freeze but not widespread enough for a watch at this time. Next week looks dry with temperatures warming back to seasonal norms. && .AVIATION...Valid through 01/12Z. Scattered to numerous showers with MTNS mostly obscured in clouds and precipitation. Areas of MVFR and localized IFR conds thru valid pd. Slight CHC of TSRA. SFC winds SLY 5-10 kts increasing to SW 11-17 kts with gusts 25-30 kts this afternoon. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...A significant winter storm system will bring periods of rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms today into Saturday. Snow levels will rise to around 8,500 feet Friday afternoon the rapidly drop to 6,500 ft Friday evening. After a Sunday morning freeze, dry weather and a gradual warming trend will develop later Sunday onward. Winds favor a southwesterly direction and breezy at times, especially along the International Border region through Saturday, then becoming light and diurnal Sunday onward. && .CLIMATE...The full climate reports for both December and 2021 for Tucson will be posted on New Year's Day. Here are the preliminary rankings: December: 3rd warmest. 53rd wettest as of 3 am with 0.83". 2021: 5th warmest. 18th wettest as of 3 am with 14.68". With a 100% of rain in the forecast today, the monthly/yearly total will increase with a subsequent change in the historical ranking. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 11 AM MST Saturday for AZZ512-513. Winter Storm Warning until 11 AM MST Saturday for AZZ510-511. Winter Storm Warning from 11 AM this morning to 11 AM MST Saturday for AZZ514. Hard Freeze Watch from late Saturday night through Sunday morning for AZZ504-505. Freeze Watch from late Saturday night through Sunday morning for AZZ502. && Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow occurred in Ski Valley where 12-18 inches was observed. Slightly lower in elevation at Summerhaven there was 10-12 inches. This event spanned from 2021 into 2022.
Per estimates from webcam imagery, Mt. Graham received 12-18 inches of snow. This event spanned from 2021 into 2022.
Hannagan Meadow received 12 to 14 inches of snow in this winter storm that spanned from 2021 into 2022.
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: 998012, 998017, 998016.