A strong cold front moving towards Arizona brought areas of high winds mainly along and north of the Mogollon Rim on February 13. The front brought accumulating snow to much of northern Arizona.
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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 cold front moving towards Arizona brought areas of high winds mainly along and north of the Mogollon Rim on February 13. The front brought accumulating snow to much of northern Arizona. However, the heaviest snow fell in the Little Colorado River Valley on the northern slopes of the Eastern Mogollon Rim into 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 Feb 13, 2:45 PM MST, 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 245 PM MST Sat Feb 13 2021 .SYNOPSIS...Expect rain and snow to spread eastward and continue through the evening and overnight as a cold front advances southeastward. Gusty southwest winds will continue through the early evening before diminishing. Snow accumulations down to 5000 feet are possible Sunday morning. Very cold and unsettled weather will continue through the week. && .DISCUSSION...Pre-frontal convective snow showers have developed ahead of the main band of precipitation. Generally, these have been producing snow pellets with quick accumulations and a few lightning strikes. Surface winds have increased with a few locations gusting to 50+ mph this afternoon. A Wind Advisory has been issued for the Colorado River Valley and areas along I-40 east of Flagstaff through 7 PM this evening. Winds will decrease behind the frontal passage later this evening. Along the front, expect additional snow accumulations through the afternoon and evening. Amounts are largely unchanged from the previous forecast with 1-4 inches expected above 6000 ft and locally higher totals of 5-9 above 7000 ft. A Winter Weather Advisory will remain in effect through 3 am Sunday morning for the northwestern zones. The Winter Weather Advisory will begin at 8 PM for areas along the eastern Mogollon Rim to the White Mountains and northward to the Chuska Mountains. Expect driving conditions to deteriorate through the afternoon and evening for areas above 6000 ft. Overnight, snow levels will drop with accumulating snow down to 5000 ft. Only light accumulations are forecast below 6000 ft. Behind the front, expect upslope showers to continue along the high terrain of the Mogollon Rim and in the White Mountain Region through the afternoon Sunday. The Winter Weather Advisory will remain in effect for the areas along the eastern Mogollon Rim to the White Mountain Region northward to the Chuska Mountains through 5 PM Sunday. Monday through Friday...A second system will bring another chance for snow to northern Arizona on Monday and Tuesday. Amounts will be light for most areas with the highest accumulations along the highest peaks and plateaus. After Monday and Tuesday, a return to dry for all is forecast across northern Arizona. Temperatures will remain cool through Wednesday with cold overnight lows possible, especially for areas with snow on the ground. && .AVIATION...For the 00Z package...Expect areas of rain and snow to continue to push NW through SE into tonight. Areas rain/snow will produce MVFR/VFR through 08Z-10Z along and west of a KPAN/KFLG/KGCN line, through 12Z-14Z near the NM border. Scattered shsn over higher terrain producing localized MVFR/VFR Sunday afternoon. Sfc winds sw15-30g40-45kts through 00Z-02Z, shift to w10-20g25kts overnight and nw-ne10-15g20kts Sunday. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Strong southwest winds will shift to the west and slowly diminish overnight, becoming even lighter from the northwest through northeast on Sunday. Areas of rain and snow will taper off to scattered showers during the day Sunday, dry on Monday. Below normal temperatures Sunday will warm modestly on Monday, with increasing southwest winds. Tuesday through Thursday...Expect below normal temperatures and a chance of rain and snow showers again Tuesday into Wednesday. Gusty southwest winds Tuesday turn northerly Wednesday, light winds and warmer on Thursday. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM MST Sunday FOR AZZ004-015-039. Wind Advisory until 7 PM MST this evening FOR AZZ012>014. Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM MST Sunday FOR AZZ011. Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 5 PM MST Sunday FOR AZZ016-017. && PUBLIC...ET AVIATION...Peterson FIRE WEATHER...Peterson For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Springerville Airport ASOS recorded wind gusts of 58 MPH between 315 and 335 PM MST.
The Show Low area received between 5 and 8 inches of snow. Greer received 8 inches of snow. Pinetop-Lakeside reported the most snow with between 7 and 11 inches of new snow.
Heavy snow fell across the Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County as strong upslope developed on the back side of a departing low pressure area. Some totals include (in inches): Lyman Lake State Park 14, Vernon 12-14, and Concho 11.
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, February 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: 948408, 948419, 948437.