Arizona, 2026

Heavy Snow and High Wind in Arizona, February 18, 2026

February 18, 2026 · NWS FGZ · 26 events in 10 counties and zones

The second of three winter storms moved in on the morning of February 18th and departed quickly on the night of February 18th. This was a colder storm with more snow than the previous one, however, the bigger impact was the high winds.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 26 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

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
26

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.

The second of three winter storms moved in on the morning of February 18th and departed quickly on the night of February 18th. This was a colder storm with more snow than the previous one, however, the bigger impact was the high winds. This storm caused near blizzard conditions at times as well as blowing and drifting snow and lower snowfall amounts than expected.

What forecasters said that day

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 18, 2:22 AM MST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 18, 2:22 AM MST, 1 hour 33 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 high wind, 3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County

When
February 18, 3:55 AM MST to 5:35 PM MST
Where
Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
35.396, -109.489 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sustained wind speeds of over 40 mph were common for 13 hours and 40 minutes at the Springerville Airport AWOS site (KJTC). Gusts over 60 mph were common between 6:55 AM and 4:55 PM. A peak wind gust of 76 mph was measured at 1:35 PM.

Heavy Snow, Western Mogollon Rim

When
February 18, 7:00 AM MST to 5:00 PM MST
Where
Western Mogollon Rim forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall amounts ranged from 3.0 to 6.5 inches. The greatest snowfall amount of 6.5 inches was measured at 1 SW Kachina Village.

Heavy Snow, Yavapai County Mountains

When
February 18, 7:30 AM MST to 4:30 PM MST
Where
Yavapai County Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Public reported 4.0 inches of snow on Spruce Mountain at an elevation of 6000 feet, at 2 NW Walker.

High Wind, Western Mogollon Rim

When
February 18, 7:43 AM MST
Where
Western Mogollon Rim forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A railfan webcam located at Flagstaff's Train Depot showed a wind gust had snapped a railroad crossing barrier in half. Winds measured in the area including Flagstaff airport were approaching or exceeding 60 mph.

High Wind, Western Mogollon Rim

When
February 18, 7:59 AM MST to 11:57 AM MST
Where
Western Mogollon Rim forecast zone
Measured
57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Peak wind gusts of 66 mph were measured at 7:59 AM, 8:02 AM, 11:49 AM and 11:57 AM at the Flagstaff Airport ASOS site (KFLG).

High Wind, Eastern Mogollon Rim

When
February 18, 8:24 AM MST to 1:24 PM MST
Where
Eastern Mogollon Rim forecast zone
Measured
57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by
RAWS
Coordinates
35.620, -111.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind gusts of 60 mph or higher were common for 5 hours at the Limestone Canyon RAWS site (QLCA3). A peak wind gust of 66 mph was measured at 1:24 PM.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Mogollon Rim

When
February 18, 8:30 AM MST to 5:30 PM MST
Where
Eastern Mogollon Rim forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.620, -111.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Public reported 5.0 inches of snow at Forest Lakes.

High Wind, Grand Canyon Country

When
February 18, 8:50 AM MST to 8:54 AM MST
Where
Grand Canyon Country forecast zone
Measured
53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A peak wind gust of 61 mph was measured at 8:50 AM and 8:54 AM at the Grand Canyon Airport ASOS (KGCN).

High Wind, White Mountains

When
February 18, 9:15 AM MST to 4:35 PM MST
Where
White Mountains forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
35.398, -109.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sustained winds at or near 40 mph occurred for 7 hours and 20 minutes at the Show Low airport AWOS site (KSOW). A peak wind gust of 62 mph was recorded at 9:35 AM.

High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County

When
February 18, 9:15 AM MST to 1:30 PM MST
Where
Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County forecast zone
Measured
58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
35.400, -110.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind speeds of 40 mph or greater were common for 4 hours and 15 minutes at the Winslow Airport ASOS (KINW). The peak wind gust of 67 mph was measured at 9:56 AM.

High Wind, White Mountains

When
February 18, 9:23 AM MST to 6:53 PM MST
Where
White Mountains forecast zone
Measured
59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
35.398, -109.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind gusts over 60 mph were common for 9 and a half hours at the SR-260 @ MP-378 DOT site (AZT18). A peak wind gust of 68 mph occurred at 12:13 PM and 12:33 PM.

High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County

When
February 18, 9:43 AM MST
Where
Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
35.400, -110.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A peak wind gust of 59 mph was measured at the I-40 @ Little Colorado River MM 257 DOT site (AZT06).

High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County

When
February 18, 9:53 AM MST to 2:33 PM MST
Where
Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County forecast zone
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
35.400, -110.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sustained winds of at least 40 mph were common for 4 and a half hours at the Highway 77 @ 14 Mile Hill DOT site (AZT12). Gusts to 60 mph were common between 10:13 AM and 1:53 PM. The peak wind gust of 70 mph was measured at 11:43 AM.

High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County

When
February 18, 10:33 AM MST
Where
Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County forecast zone
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
35.400, -110.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A peak wind gust of 64 mph was recorded at the I-40 @ Jack Rabbit MM 270 DOT site (AZT11).

High Wind, White Mountains

When
February 18, 10:35 AM MST
Where
White Mountains forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
35.398, -109.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Arizona Public Service (APS) reported that strong winds knocked a tree down on a power line, knocking out power to about 2000 people.

High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County

When
February 18, 10:35 AM MST to 2:15 PM MST
Where
Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County forecast zone
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
35.400, -110.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sustained winds of 40 mph or higher were common for 3 hours and 45 minutes at the Taylor Airport AWOS (KTYL). Wind gusts of 60 mph or higher were common between 10:35 AM and 12:55 PM. The peak wind gust of 70 mph occurred at 11:35 AM.

High Wind, Eastern Mogollon Rim

When
February 18, 10:38 AM MST to 12:38 PM MST
Where
Eastern Mogollon Rim forecast zone
Measured
70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
Reported by
RAWS
Coordinates
35.620, -111.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A peak wind gust of 81 mph was recorded at the Pinedale RAWS site (TT857). A wind gust of 72 mph was also recorded at 12:38 PM.

High Wind, Eastern Mogollon Rim

When
February 18, 10:55 AM MST
Where
Eastern Mogollon Rim forecast zone
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
35.620, -111.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A peak wind gust of 64 mph was measured at Mogollon Airpark AWOS (AZ82).

High Wind, Yavapai County Mountains

When
February 18, 11:04 AM MST
Where
Yavapai County Mountains forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A peak wind gust of 59 mph was measured at the Prescott Airport ASOS site (KPRC).

High Wind, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau

When
February 18, 12:58 PM MST
Where
Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
35.396, -109.489 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A peak wind gust of 58 mph was measured at the Window Rock Airport ASOS (KRQE).

High Wind, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau

When
February 18, 1:23 PM MST
Where
Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau forecast zone
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
35.396, -109.489 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A peak wind gust of 63 mph was measured at the I-40 @ Lupton DOT Site (AZT07).

High Wind, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Highway 264

When
February 18, 1:52 PM MST
Where
Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Highway 264 forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
35.545, -110.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A peak wind gust of 58 mph was measured at the I-40 @ Petrified Forest NP DOT site (AZT13).

High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County

When
February 18, 1:55 PM MST
Where
Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.400, -110.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Public reported a 69 mph wind gust at 2.2 S Holbrook.

High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County

When
February 18, 2:54 PM MST
Where
Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County forecast zone
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
35.396, -109.489 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A peak wind gust of 64 mph was recorded at the St. Johns Airport ASOS site (KSJN).

High Wind, Kaibab Plateau

When
February 18, 4:19 PM MST
Where
Kaibab Plateau forecast zone
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Public reported a 63 mph wind gust at Four Springs W. Vermillion Cliffs.

High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County

When
February 18, 4:39 PM MST
Where
Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County forecast zone
Measured
69 kt (79 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.396, -109.489 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Public reported a 79 mph wind gust in Vernon.

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, February 2026

Sources

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: 1306877, 1307009, 1307010, 1306785, 1306763, 1306839, 1307016, 1306808, 1306805, 1306881, 1306823, 1306847, 1306884, 1318929, 1306886, 1306890, 1306875, 1306921, 1306891, 1306924, 1306909, 1306922, 1306915, 1306892, 1306919, 1306910.