The first of three winter storms impacted Northern Arizona starting on the afternoon of the 16th and lasting until the late afternoon on the 17th. This was a warm system with high snow levels at the onset.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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.
The first of three winter storms impacted Northern Arizona starting on the afternoon of the 16th and lasting until the late afternoon on the 17th. This was a warm system with high snow levels at the onset. This allowed higher rainfall amounts with lower mountain snowfall amounts.
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 16, 2:39 PM MST, 56 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 239 PM MST Mon Feb 16 2026 .SYNOPSIS...A series of storm systems will bring rain and snow along with gusty winds to northern Arizona through much of the coming week. Winter driving conditions are likely above 6000 feet later tonight through Tuesday, then down to 5000 feet or lower by Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION...A large area of low pressure will be located over the western United States through Friday. A series of shortwave troughs will cross our region on the south end of this low, delivering colder temperatures, windy conditions and periods of mountain snow and lower elevation rain. Driving will become difficult and hazardous at times through the coming week due strong crosswinds and snow accumulation on roads. Make sure and check for forecast updates and plan your travels accordingly. The first wave will cross our region later this evening through Tuesday. Precipitation is forecast to develop by early evening in western Coconino/Yavapai counties, spreading to the I-17/US89 corridor by mid to late evening (8-10 PM), then into eastern Arizona in the pre-dawn hours. Snow levels will be fairly high initially (7000-7500') but will fall quickly to 5000-5500' as the front passes. Southwest winds will also remain elevated overnight into Tuesday, strongest just ahead and along the cold front. The Winter Weather Advisory continues from this evening through Tuesday afternoon for the Kaibab Plateau and Mogollon Rim, including the Flagstaff region and adjacent stretches of I-40/17. A general 3-7" snowfall is forecast through early Tuesday evening above 6000' in the advisory area. Due to strong upslope forcing, some locally higher amounts of 8-12" may occur on south-facing slopes. The steadiest precipitation and heaviest accumulation is expected through Tuesday morning, with a more showery nature into the afternoon. From Tuesday evening through the overnight period, a chance of snow showers will persist over the upslope zones of the Mogollon Rim/Kaibab Plateau and continue to create periodic snowy travel, with most other areas seeing showers taper off. The second shortwave is forecast to move through our region from early Wednesday morning through early evening. This shortwave is expected to be colder, with lower snow levels down to 4000-5000'. The latest NBM guidance has a 50-70% chance of 24-hr snowfall exceeding 8" along the higher portions of the Kaibab Plateau and Mogollon Rim on Wednesday. Winds aloft on Wednesday also increase to 50-65kts at 700 mb, with surface winds gusting in the 35-45 mph range for most areas and even higher (55+ mph) in the Little Colorado River Valley and spots like Eagar, Springerville, and possibly Show Low. The combination of snow/blowing snow with the gusty winds prompted us to issue a Winter Storm Watch from early Wednesday morning through mid evening for the Kaibab Plateau to the Mogollon Rim where the heaviest snow is forecast. Other areas may need Winter Weather Advisories eventually (Grand Canyon, higher elevations of Yavapai County, Chuska Mtns). A third shortwave is still forecast to arrive later Thursday into Friday, but this continues to be a lower confidence forecast as there is more model spread in this time period. For now, we have a 40-60% chance of precipitation with low snow levels down to 4000'. This last system has the potential to be pretty impactful with another round of moderate to heavy snow, but we just don't have details just yet - stay tuned on this one. Overall, quite the pattern shift to active winter weather after a rather quiet season so far. && .AVIATION...Monday 16/18Z through Tuesday 17/18Z...VFR conditions through 02Z, then rain and snow showers spread from west to east bringing periods of MVFR-LIFR conditions. Worst impacts expected along a heavier precipitation band between 06-12Z, with drops to IFR-LIFR in heavy snow showers for high elevation sites above 6500-7000 ft. Conditions slightly improve after 12Z, but flight impacts will remain. Winds are S-SW 20-30 kts gusting 35-45 kts through the period. OUTLOOK...Tuesday 17/18Z through Thursday 19/18Z...Unsettled conditions will continue, with drops to MVFR-LIFR conditions through the period. Worst impacts are anticipated between 12Z Wednesday and 00Z Thursday as another round of heavier showers moves through, but aviation impacts remain possible through the entire period. In general, heavy snow showers and blowing snow are possible for sites above 5000-6000 ft. A wintry mix down to around 4000 ft is possible especially towards the end of the period. Winds S-SW 15-30kts with gusts 35-40kts through 00Z Thursday, beginning to decline thereafter. && .FIRE WEATHER...Tonight through Wednesday...Rain and snow showers begin spreading from west to east tonight. Heaviest and most widespread rain/snow accumulations are anticipated through Tuesday morning, then again Wednesday morning through evening. Conditions will remain scattered and showery even outside of these periods. Snow levels start around 7000-7500 feet by the onset of precipitation, falling to 5000-5500 feet by midday Tuesday, then 4000-4500 feet by Wednesday evening. Winds are southwest 15-30 mph with gusts 35-45 mph through the period, remaining elevated overnight. Thursday through Saturday...Chances for rain and snow showers continue Thursday and Friday, however confidence is lower on additional accumulations during this period. Snow levels may drop as low as 3500-4000 feet on Friday. Fair weather looks to return by Saturday. Winds are southwest through west 10-15 mph gusting to 25 mph Thursday and Friday, then variable at 5-15 mph on Saturday.. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 8 PM MST this evening for AZZ004-015>017. Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 5 PM MST Tuesday for AZZ004-015>017. Winter Storm Watch from late Tuesday night through Wednesday evening for AZZ004-015-016. Wind Advisory until 8 AM MST Tuesday for AZZ006>008-038. Wind Advisory until 5 PM MST Tuesday for AZZ012>014-039. && PUBLIC...JJ AVIATION...Lewandowski FIRE WEATHER...Lewandowski For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Sustained wind speeds of 40 mph or higher were reported for 4 hours and 20 minutes at the Springerville Airport AWOS site (KJTC). A peak wind gust of 61 mph was recorded at 7:55 PM.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, February 2026
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: 1306762.