A storm system moved through southeast Arizona delivering snow to some of the mountain tops generally above 8000 to 8500 feet. 14 inches of snow was recorded at the Hannagan Meadow SNOTEL but there were no discernable impacts from this event given the elevation that the snow occurred at.
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The episode as NWS TWC wrote it up.
A storm system moved through southeast Arizona delivering snow to some of the mountain tops generally above 8000 to 8500 feet. 14 inches of snow was recorded at the Hannagan Meadow SNOTEL but there were no discernable impacts from this event given the elevation that the snow occurred at.
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 22, 2:19 PM MST, 41 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 219 PM MST Fri Dec 22 2023 .SYNOPSIS...A wet Pacific storm will continue to move across Southeast Arizona tonight into the weekend. This storm will bring widespread rain and high elevation snow tonight into Saturday. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible late afternoon into the late evening. A few showers possible on Sunday and then dry and cooler temperatures for the new week. && .DISCUSSION...Rain showers and high elevation snow can be observed across Southeast Arizona today and will continue through the night. A low pressure center off the southern California coast will bring three forecast elements for the region: rain, thunderstorms, and high elevation snow. The Total Precipitable Water satellite imagery shows the low pressure center tapping into the subtropical jet (PWAT values of 1.5 inches) which will continue to bring the anomalous amount of rain for the region. The ECMWF Extreme Forecast Index shows this anomalous amount of rain on a order of 1-2 shift of tails through Saturday night. The current 12 hour rainfall amounts have been 0.5 inches to several locations in the 1+ inch territory. Those locations have the upslope dynamics and more efficient rain process so far. As the afternoon progresses, more storms will start to train over a corridor from the northern limits of Tucson to the southern limits of Sonoita. The storms will be traveling between the two limits in a northeasterly direction. The HREF 3 Hour ensemble Probability Match Mean shows the corridor has 30-50% of receiving an 1 or more by the later afternoon and early evening. This can make the evening travel a challenge as roads will be ponding to some minor flooding issues in low lying areas and washes will be flowing. So far, only a handful of washes are flowing in the Tucson metro. The will lead to more flow in other washes as the soils have become more saturated from the morning rains. Reminder, Turn Around Don't Drown! As the low pressure center moves across the region this afternoon, the jet axis will be a favorable position as well with good diffluence aloft to support organized thunderstorms. The RAP analysis has shear values of 50 kts and some low CAPE values, but that can increase over the course of several hours if there is enough break in clouds to get solar heating or minor disturbance to jump start storms. SPC has a marginal risk for thunderstorms for wind and hail which can be possible due to the upper level support. Once thunderstorms form, especially within the previously stated corridor, it can bring locally heavy rainfall, gusty and erratic winds, and possibly small hail. The snow levels are currently around 8500-9000 feet based on the cameras on the radio ridge on Mt Lemmon. The snow has been accumulating to about an inch as of this writing. As the low pressure center moves, the 700mb temperatures will drop from 0 degrees celsius to close to -4 degrees and possibly to -5 by the late evening. This will bring snow levels down close to 6,500-7,000 feet by tomorrow morning. The ridgetops and higher upslope will see the heavier side of the snow. Thus, there is a Winter Weather Advisory for locations above 8000 feet to highlight this snow. Looking ahead, a 500 mb ridge will build behind the storm system by Sunday and into the new week. Temperatures will stay several degrees below normal (eastern locations will be below freezing for the mornings) for a few days after the storm system moves out. Then, dry and temperatures being near seasonal normal for the week. && .AVIATION...valid through 24/00Z. SCT-BKN clouds AOA 4K-8K ft AGL across the forecast area and through the majority of the forecast period. -SHRA and embedded -TSRA continuing through the after and clearing west to east by 24/18Z. MVFR ceilings/vsby conditions across all of southeast Arizona through the end of the forecast period, along with mountain obscurations. Any -TSRA is capable of wind gusts to 30 kts. Otherwise, SFC wind will generally be less than 12 kts and from the south/southwest through the end of the period. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...A strong and wet storm system will move across the area tonight into Sunday, with cooler temperatures and widespread precipitation. Relative humidity values will increase substantially starting tonight and remain well above critical thresholds into at least the middle of next week. 20-foot winds will generally remain below 15 mph through the period. Widespread wetting rain is likely with this system, along with high elevation snow above 8k ft. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 5 PM MST Saturday for AZZ510-511-514. && Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
There was 14 inches of snow at the Hannagan Meadow SNOTEL site.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, December 2023
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: 1145817.