A pair of winter storm systems moved across Arizona January 24 through 26. The first brought moderate snow accumulations to several mountain ranges above 6000 feet on January 24.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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 pair of winter storm systems moved across Arizona January 24 through 26. The first brought moderate snow accumulations to several mountain ranges above 6000 feet on January 24. Mt. Lemmon Highway was closed at the base as a result. Thunderstorms produced hail and gusty winds at lower elevations. The second storm brought widespread heavy snow to southeast Arizona above 3500 feet, and even brought slushy snow accumulations and slippery road conditions to parts of the greater Tucson Metro area. The bulk of the snow fell from the evening of January 25 through the morning of January 26, and was accompanied at times by wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph. Snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches occurred between 3500 and 5000 feet with 6 to 12 inches from 5000 to 7000 feet and 12 to 20 inches above 7000 feet. The additional snow forced the closure of Mt. Lemmon Highway near Tucson to continue, and also triggered closures of Highway 191 north of Hannagan Meadow and Route 80 near Bisbee.
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 Jan 24, 3:55 AM MST, 3 hours 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 355 AM MST Sun Jan 24 2021 .SYNOPSIS...Two winter storms will impact the area today and again on Monday afternoon into Tuesday with valley rain and mountain snow. The strongest and coldest storm will pass through Monday afternoon with snow levels possibly reaching desert floors including the Tucson Metro Monday night into Tuesday. Significant snow accumulations are expected for elevations generally above 4000 feet. Gusty winds with well below average temperatures will also accompany the storm system. && .DISCUSSION...The first of two winter storms was centered over southeast California early this morning with showers starting to develop across portions of the area. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for the mountains until 8 pm mst today where several inches of snow can be expected. Valley rain can also be anticipated today before the storm exits the area tonight. After a brief break tonight, precipitation chances will increase again on Monday into Tuesday as the next winter storm bears down on the area. This next storm will be colder with much lower snow levels and more significant snow accumulations in the mountains. Higher elevation valleys mainly east and south of Tucson will likely experience light snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches Monday evening into Tuesday. A Winter Storm Warning has been posted for the mountains Monday afternoon into Tuesday with a Winter Weather Advisory for the higher elevation valleys. Clearing skies Tuesday night will result in a hard freeze and widespread frost Wednesday morning in the valleys. Models were showing a break in the weather Wednesday and Thursday before yet another storm system approaches the region late in the week. && .AVIATION...Valid through 25/12Z. BKN-OVC clouds at 7k-11k ft MSL, with lowering cloud decks thru the morning hours. BKN-OVC cloud decks at 2k-5k ft AGL expected by 24/16Z. SCT valley -SHRA/mountain -SHSN will develop this morning, becoming widespread this afternoon and then ending from west to east tonight. Mountain obscurations and MVFR conditions expected across southeast Arizona between 24/15Z and 25/06Z. SFC wind SLY/SWLY at less than 12 kts thru 24/17Z and then again aft 25/03Z, with wind speeds of 12-18 kts and gusts to 28 kts between 24/17Z and 25/03Z. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...A series of storm systems will move across the region through the middle of the week, resulting in valley rain and mountain snow, along with colder temperatures. Snow levels may fall as low as 3,000 to 4,000 feet Monday night into Tuesday. Gusty winds are expected during this unsettled weather period, with Monday looking like the breeziest day. A drier weather pattern is then expected during the second half of the week, with the possibility of yet another storm system next weekend. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 8 PM MST this evening for AZZ510>514. Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM Monday to 5 PM MST Tuesday for AZZ503-504-506>515. Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM Monday to 5 PM MST Tuesday for AZZ510>514. && Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:00 UTC.
8 winter storm, 2 winter weather, 1 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Nine to eleven inches of snow fell at the higher elevations of the Santa Catalina Mountains, which caused the closure of Mt Lemmon Highway at the base.
Thunderstorms produced small hail that nearly covered portions of roadways in Marana. Slick road surfaces led to several traffic accidents involving a total of least 10 vehicles on Interstate 10.
Thunderstorm winds caused minor roof damage to a home in North Komelik. Rain caused further damage inside the home.
Heavy snow accumulations of 12 inches combined with winds gusting to 45 mph caused blowing and drifting snow in the White Mountains. Highway 191 north of Hannagan Meadow was closed.
Heavy snow accumulations of 10 to 14 inches combined with winds gusting to 40 mph caused blowing and drifting snow in the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains. Mount Lemmon Highway remained closed at the base due to the heavy snow.
Heavy snow accumulations of 16 to 20 inches combined with winds gusting to 30 mph caused blowing and drifting snow on Mt. Graham.
Heavy snow accumulations of 10 to 14 inches combined with winds gusting to 50 mph caused blowing and drifting snow in the Huachuca, Santa Rita and Mule mountains. Ten inches of snow was observed at an elevation of 5500 feet in Bisbee. State Route 80 near Bisbee was closed due to the snow and Cochise County closed most of its government offices on January 26. After the snow ended, a hiker who became stranded during the winter storm was rescued by helicopter from the Huachuca Mountains. The hiker was treated for frostbite by medical staff.
Heavy snow accumulations of 10 to 14 inches combined with winds gusting to 40 mph occurred in the Chiricahua Mountains. Eleven inches of snow was observed at an elevation of 5500 feet at Paradise.
Heavy snow accumulations combined with winds gusting to 40 mph to produce slick roads and poor visibilities at elevations between 3500 and 5000 feet in parts of Santa Cruz and southern Cochise counties. Snowfall totals of 3 to 4 inches were common near Nogales, Patagonia, Sierra Vista and Portal with localized higher amounts around 6 inches near Elgin, Sonoita and Hereford.
Heavy snow accumulations combined with winds gusting to 40 mph to produce slick roads and poor visibilities at elevations between 3500 and 5000 feet in parts of Santa Cruz and southern Cochise counties. Snowfall totals of 3 to 4 inches were common near Nogales, Patagonia, Sierra Vista and Portal with localized higher amounts around 6 inches near Elgin, Sonoita and Hereford.
Heavy snow accumulations combined with winds gusting to 40 mph to produce slick roads and poor visibilities at elevations between 3500 and 5000 feet in parts of Santa Cruz and southern Cochise counties. Snowfall totals of 3 to 4 inches were common near Nogales, Patagonia, Sierra Vista and Portal with localized higher amounts around 6 inches near Elgin, Sonoita and Hereford.
Rain and snow showers created slippery roads in parts of eastern Pima County, which led to numerous, mainly minor, traffic accidents along Interstate 19 near Green Valley and Sahuarita and along Interstate 10 in the northwest Tucson Metro area. One accident on I-10 near the Cochise County line resulted in a rollover, which caused one east bound lane to be closed for an hour. No injuries were reported.
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: 930382, 930381, 956924, 932149, 932152, 930667, 932153, 932151, 932157, 932207, 932209, 932309.