A winter storm brought heavy snow with lower elevation rain to northern Arizona. The snow from this first of two storms ended in the afternoon of January 24.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 winter storm brought heavy snow with lower elevation rain to northern Arizona. The snow from this first of two storms ended in the afternoon of January 24.
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 Jan 22, 3:23 PM MST, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 323 PM MST Fri Jan 22 2021 .SYNOPSIS...A series of storm systems arrives tonight, with the first storm bringing falling snow levels and widespread precipitation through the weekend. An even stronger storm arrives Monday into Tuesday. Expect even lower snow levels with this storm and widespread snow accumulations. This will be an extended period of winter weather. Travel will be difficult at times this weekend with even more difficult conditions developing early next week. && .DISCUSSION...Two winter storms are set to affect northern Arizona over the next few days, with the greatest impacts anticipated in storm number two early next week. For this afternoon, radar imagery shows upslope showers ongoing, mainly across central Arizona. These are in the form of rain at most locations as snow levels remain anywhere from 7500-8000 feet. The first storm will feature a couple pieces of energy which will provide a focus for lift and the best chances for heavier precipitation. One of these will cross the area tonight bringing gradually lowering snow levels and increased shower activity. Behind the initial piece of energy, model guidance shows only shallow moisture in place through much of the daylight hours Saturday which will limit precipitation rates and significant snow accumulation. Another shortwave crosses the region Saturday night into Sunday bringing more widespread precipitation and heavier rates. We have lowered snow accumulations for this weekend, but still are expecting 5-10 inches above 6000 feet. Locally higher amounts of 8-14 inches will be possible above 6500 feet. The Winter Storm Warning has been replaced with a Winter Weather Advisory for portions of the Mogollon Rim and the mountains of Yavapai County. Travel will be difficult at times across the High Country so delay if at all possible. Greater impacts are anticipated across the entire area Sunday night through Tuesday as a cold upper low dives down the West Coast and into Arizona. Residual moisture from the first system will provide an environment conducive for heavier precipitation amounts. Additionally, very cold air aloft will accompany this system with snow levels falling to around 2000 feet by Tuesday morning. Forecast snow amounts will generally range from 1-2 feet above 6000 feet with 5-10 inches as low as 4000 feet. Light snow accumulations will be possible in the lowest elevations of our County Warning Area. Along with the snowfall, gusty winds will lead to areas of blowing snow especially across the higher terrain. Travel will become even more difficult early next week, so travel is not recommended. Shower activity is expected to diminish from west to east later Tuesday into Wednesday. With fresh snow cover in place and weakening winds, expect very cold morning temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday. After a brief break in the active weather, another system is possible by next weekend. && .AVIATION...For the 00Z package...Rain and snow showers will become more widespread through the forecast period, especially tonight. Expect MVFR and IFR conditions to continue across the high terrain tonight. Ceilings will lower tonight across the lower terrain with MVFR conditions developing in some places. There will be some improvement in ceilings and visibility during the daylight hours on Saturday, especially across the lower terrain. Expect southwest surface winds at 10-20 kts with gusts up to 30 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER....Rain and snow showers will be widespread across the area this weekend. Snow levels will gradually fall, dropping to 4000 feet by Sunday afternoon. Expect breezy southwest winds over the next couple days. Monday through Wednesday...A major winter storm will bring significant snow, breezy southwest winds, and snow levels down to 2000 feet by Tuesday morning. Shower activity will diminish later Tuesday with very cold temperatures on Wednesday morning. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 5 PM MST Sunday FOR AZZ008-015-016. && PUBLIC...TPS AVIATION...TPS FIRE WEATHER...TPS For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
The Flagstaff area received between 7 and 10.5 inches of snow from the evening of January 22 to the evening of January 24. Kachina Village received 14 inches of snow. Munds Park received 9.5 inches of new snow.
Forest Lakes received 17.5 inches of total snow from January 22 to 24. 11.5 inches of snow fell from around 5 PM Saturday to 11 AM Sunday.
Nine inches of snow fell 7 miles southwest of Forest Lakes just below the Mogollon Rim in Gila County.
Nine inches of snow fell in McNary.
Chino Valley received 4-5 inches of snow below 5,000 feet from Friday night to Sunday morning (Jan 23-24).
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, January 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: 936531, 936532, 936533, 936534, 936530.