Arizona, 2023Dust Storm and Heavy Snow in Arizona, February 14 to 15, 2023
February 14 to 15, 2023 · NWS FGZ · 16 events in 11 counties and zones
A strong longwave trough digging through The Great Basin brought more moisture to Arizona in addition to the remnant moisture from a weak storm that just move across the state. This allowed for precipitation to start the morning of February 14 across the favored upslope-forced areas along the southward facing terrain.
Every event with a place to put it; 16 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 16
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.
A strong longwave trough digging through The Great Basin brought more moisture to Arizona in addition to the remnant moisture from a weak storm that just move across the state. This allowed for precipitation to start the morning of February 14 across the favored upslope-forced areas along the southward facing terrain.
During the afternoon of 14 February, an intense band of heavy precipitation moved across northern Arizona and lasted through the night. Snowfall rates of 1-2 inch/hour were seen over the higher terrain, especially from Flagstaff to Happy Jack to Forest Lakes.
Very cold temperatures were also observed with this storm with snow levels down to around 3500 feet by the morning of 15 February.
High winds were also experienced with this storm.
Event by event
10 heavy snow, 5 high wind, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy Snow, Western Mogollon Rim
- When
- February 14, 5:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
- Where
- Western Mogollon Rim forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
- Coordinates
- 35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall reports from around the Western Mogollon Rim include (in inches): Doney Park 15.8, Kachina Village 14.8, Flagstaff 12.2, Bellemont (NWS Flagstaff) 11.6, Munds Park 11.0, 3 SW Williams 10, and Parks 8.8. Seventeen inches of snow fell at 10,800 feet about 10 miles NNW of Flagstaff.
High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County
- When
- February 14, 10:00 AM MST to 1:35 PM MST
- Where
- Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County forecast zone
- Measured
- 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 35.620, -111.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The ADOT wind sensor at Two Guns had sustained winds of 40 MPH or higher between 1000 AM and 130 PM. The winds gusted to 58 MPH or higher between 1020 AM and 120 PM. The highest wind gust was 63 MPH at 1203 PM.
Heavy Snow, Yavapai County Mountains
- When
- February 14, 10:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Yavapai County Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Six to eight inches of new snow fell in Washington Park.
High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County
- When
- February 14, 1:00 PM MST to 3:30 PM MST
- Where
- Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County forecast zone
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 35.400, -110.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Winslow Airport reported sustained winds of 40 MPH or higher from 100 PM to around 330 PM, wind gusts of 58 MPH or higher from around 115 PM until around 300 PM, and a peak wind gust of 63 MPH at 219 PM. Blowing dust reduced the visibility at times to less than 3 miles between 100 PM and 230 PM. The ADOT sensors on I-40 at the Little Colorado River had a peak wind gust of 62 MPH at 213 PM and the one on I-40 at Jack Rabbit had a peak wind gust of 62 MPH at 323 PM.
Dust Storm, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County
- When
- February 14, 1:00 PM MST to 2:40 PM MST
- Where
- Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County forecast zone
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 35.400, -110.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blowing dust reduced the visibility to 3 miles or less between 100 PM and 230 PM. The lowest visibility on the ASOS sensor was one mile between 100 PM and about 140 PM with wind gusts to around 60 MPH.
High Wind, White Mountains
- When
- February 14, 1:58 PM MST
- Where
- White Mountains forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 35.398, -109.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Show Low Airport reported a peak wind gust of 58 MPH at 158 PM.
Heavy Snow, Eastern Mogollon Rim
- When
- February 14, 2:00 PM MST to February 15, 8:00 AM MST
- Where
- Eastern Mogollon Rim forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.620, -111.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Heber-Overgaard area received 8.7 inches of new snow. Linden received 9-11 inches of new snow. Forest Lakes received 18 inches of snow.
High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County
- When
- February 14, 3:15 PM MST
- Where
- Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County forecast zone
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 35.396, -109.489 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Springerville Airport had a peak wind gust of 59 MPH at 315 PM. The wind gusts were between 40 and 50 MPH from around 900 AM until around 600 PM.
Heavy Snow, White Mountains
- When
- February 14, 4:00 PM MST to February 15, 4:00 PM MST
- Where
- White Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.398, -109.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
McNary received 9.5 inches of new snow, Show Low 11.5 inches, and Greer 10-14 inches.
Heavy Snow, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County
- When
- February 14, 5:00 PM MST to February 15, 8:00 AM MST
- Where
- Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.396, -109.489 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Vernon received 13 inches of new snow. St Johns received around 8 inches of new snow. Eighteen inches of snow fell about 8 miles north of Vernon.
Heavy Snow, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County
- When
- February 14, 5:00 PM MST to February 15, 3:00 AM MST
- Where
- Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 35.400, -110.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Four and a half inches of snow fell 5 miles west of Joseph City just below 5000 feet elevation.
Heavy Snow, Black Mesa Area
- When
- February 14, 6:00 PM MST to February 15, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Black Mesa Area forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.545, -110.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Forest Lakes Chapter House reported 8 inches of new snow. Shonto Chapter House reported 7 inches of new snow.
Heavy Snow, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas From Highway 264 North
- When
- February 14, 6:00 PM MST to February 15, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Northeast Plateaus and Mesas From Highway 264 North forecast zone
- Reported by
- Tribal Official
- Coordinates
- 35.545, -110.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Forest Lakes Chapter House reported 8 inches of new snow.
Heavy Snow, Kaibab Plateau
- When
- February 14, 6:00 PM MST to February 15, 1:00 PM MST
- Where
- Kaibab Plateau forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Six inches of snow fell in Fredonia at an elevation of 4,800 feet MSL.
High Wind, Yavapai County Mountains
- When
- February 14, 7:48 PM MST
- Where
- Yavapai County Mountains forecast zone
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
- Coordinates
- 34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Humbug Creek RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 63 MPH at 748 PM.
Heavy Snow, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau
- When
- February 14, 8:00 PM MST to February 15, 12:00 PM MST
- Where
- Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau forecast zone
- Reported by
- Tribal Official
- Coordinates
- 35.396, -109.489 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Tsailie/Wheatfields Chapter House reported 14 inches of new snow.
- Heavy Snow
- Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
- Dust Storm
- Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Dust Storm and High Wind in California, February 14, 2023$100,000 · 74 kt wind · 12 events
- High Wind in New Mexico, February 14, 2023$150,000 · 68 kt wind · 2 events
- High Wind in Texas, February 14, 2023$50,000 · 63 kt wind · 23 events
- Drought in Oklahoma, February 14 to 28, 202329 events
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 14 to 16, 202351 kt wind · 25 events
- High Wind and Winter Weather in South Dakota, February 14 to 15, 202355 kt wind · 24 events
- High Wind in Texas, February 14, 202367 kt wind · 21 events
- Blizzard and High Wind in North Dakota, February 14 to 15, 202357 kt wind · 17 events
- Winter Weather in California, February 14, 202316 events
- High Wind in Kansas, February 14, 202370 kt wind · 14 events
- Frost and Freeze and Winter Weather in California, February 14 to 16, 202314 events
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 14 to 15, 202313 events
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1079969, 1079959, 1080051, 1079960, 1079963, 1079957, 1079971, 1079958, 1079973, 1079970, 1080059, 1080055, 1080056, 1080062, 1079955, 1080058.