Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau storm history
Storm events recorded in Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau, Arizona between 1950 and 2025.
93
Total events
0
Tornadoes
0
Hail
0
Floods
0
Deaths
$52K
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
High Wind High Wind
A peak wind gust of 59 mph was measured at 1:41 PM at the Window Rock Airport ASOS (KRQE).
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Public reported 6.0 inches of snow at Kinlichee.
High Wind High Wind
A peak wind gust of 61 mph was measured at the I-40 @ Lupton (AZT07) DOT site.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall amounts in the Chuska Mountains ranged from 11.0 to 14.0 inches. The greatest amount of snow was 14.0 inches in Lukachukai.
High Wind High Wind
A peak wind gust of 61 mph was measured at the Window Rock Airport (KRQE) ASOS.
High Wind High Wind
A peak wind gust of 60 mph was measured at the I-40 at Lupton (AZT07) DOT site.
High Wind High Wind
The Window Rock Airport measured a peak wind gust of 62 MPH at 319 PM.
High Wind High Wind
The Window Rock Airport reported peak wind gusts of 58 MPH between 400 and 500 PM.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Estimated 9 inches of snow fell overnight Saturday to early Sunday morning in Tsaile. Estimated 12 inches of snow overnight Saturday to early Sunday morning in Wheatfields.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Estimated 9 inches of snow fell overnight Saturday to early Sunday morning in Tsaile. Estimated 12 inches of snow overnight Saturday to early Sunday morning in Wheatfields.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Storm total snow was 8 inches at Sawmill Chapter house.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Eight inches of new snow fell in the community of Wheatfields. Seventeen inches of new snow fell 12 NNW Sawmill and 10 inches fell in Sawmill.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Six to eight inches of snow fell around Del Muerto (8 miles E-NE of Chinle) at 6,400 feet.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Six to eight inches of snow fell around Del Muerto (8 miles E-NE of Chinle) at 6,400 feet. Six inches of snow fell in Chinle at 5,500 feet. Six inches of snow also fell in Many Farms at 5,300 feet elevation.
High Wind High Wind
The ADOT wind sensor along Interstate-40 at Lupton measured a peak wind gust of 60 MPH at 1053 AM.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The Window Rock Airport set a new record of 31. The pervious record low of 32 was last set in 2019.
High Wind High Wind
The wind sensor along Interstate 40 at Lupton measured a peak wind gust of 66 MPH at 614 PM MST. Wind gusts of 58 MPH or higher were measured from 230 to 620 PM.
High Wind High Wind
The ADOT wind sensor at Lupton and Interstate 40 reported a peak wind gust of 67 MPH at 1133 AM MST.
High Wind High Wind
The Window Rock Airport had a peak wind gust of 61.0 MPH at 853 AM. The wind gusted to 58 MPH or higher from around 850 to 930 AM.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
The Tsailie/Wheatfields Chapter House reported 14 inches of new snow.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Three storms hit northern Arizona impacting the Navajo Nation over 4 days. At the end, Sawmill 18 to 24 inches of new snow, Pine Springs 16 to 18 inches, and Tsaile 14 to 15 inches of new snow. Navajo Route 13- Buffalo Pass was closed to the public. Some Chapter houses declared a…
High Wind High Wind
The Window Rock Airport reported wind gusts over 58 MPH at 150 and 153 PM.
High Wind High Wind
The peak wind gust at the Window Rock Airport was 58 MPH at 346 PM MST.
High Wind High Wind
The Window Rock Airport reported a peak wind gust of 61 MPH at 1158 AM MST. The sustained wind was 40 MPH or higher between 1115 AM and 200 PM.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Very cold temperatures were observed in Ganado (-7 F) and Tsaile (-5 F).
High Wind High Wind
The Window Rock Airport reported sustained winds of 40 MPH and higher between 245 and 255 AM MST. The peak wind gust was 64 MPH at 253 AM. The ADOT wind sensor along I-40 at Lupton measured wind gusts above 58 MPH between 230 and 300 AM. The peak wind gust was 77 MPH at 233 AM. P…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Heavy snow fell across northern Apache County with Tsaile reporting 9.5 inches by 1030 AM and Saint Michaels had 8.6 inches.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Up to nine inches of snow fell in Window Rock.
High Wind High Wind
The peak wind gust at the Window Rock Airport was 58 MPH between 113 PM and 153 PM.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Seven inches of snow was reported at Buffalo Pass (8,400 feet elevation) at 1000 AM November 29. It was still snowing.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Eight inches of snow fell in Upper Wheatfields overnight.
High Wind High Wind
The ASOS at the Window Rock airport recorded a peak wind gust of 58 MPH at 312 PM MST.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Eight inches of snow accumulated in Window Rock by 330 PM on February 21. Total snow amounts include (in inches): Sawmill 24, Cove 20.0, Fort Defiance 18.5, Window Rock 17.0, and Oak Springs 16.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Eleven inches of snow fell in Tsaile.
High Wind High Wind
The peak wind gust at Window Rock Airport was 66 MPH 254 PM. Blowing dust/sand reduced the visibility below 3 miles between 1225 PM and 500 PM. The visibility dropped down to a mile at around 300 PM. The ASOS stopped transmitting just after 335 PM. The peak wind gust at Lupton wa…
High Wind High Wind
An ADOT wind sensor in Lupton (along I-40) recorded a peak wind gust of 61 MPH at 843 AM MST.
High Wind High Wind
The Window Rock ASOS reported wind gusts over 58 MPH from around 330 PM to 420 PM. The peak wind gust was 62 MPH at 410 PM.
High Wind High Wind
The Window Rock Automated Surface Observation System measured a peak wind gust of 58 MPH at 100 PM MST.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Six inches of snow fell at Ft Defiance at about 6,800 feet elevation. Fourteen inches of snow fell in the town of Sawmill at 7720 feet elevation. Eight inches of snow fell in Tsaile. Eighteen inches of snow fell in Ganado at around 6,400 feet elevation.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
An estimated 14 inches of new snow fell 5 miles northwest of St Michaels at the summit if Highway 264 (7,600 feet elevation).
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Tsaile received 8.2 inches of snow (1.02 liquid) overnight and into the morning hours. A trained spotter 8 miles ENE of Chinle reported 5.5 inches of snow at 6400 feet.
High Wind High Wind
The Window Rock ASOS reported a peak wind gust of 62 MPH at 410 PM MST. Sustained winds of 40 MPH and/or gust of 58 MPH were reported for about an hour and a half around that time.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Ten inches of snow was reported in Tsaile.
High Wind High Wind
The Window Rock ASOS reported wind gusts over 50 MPH from 455 PM MST to 520 PM MST. The peak wind gust of 67 MPH was recorded at 506 PM MST. A tree branch fell on a vehicle.
Dense Fog Dense Fog
Dense fog was reported along Highway 264.
High Wind High Wind
The Window Rock ASOS reported a peak wind gust of 58 MPH at 453 PM.
Dust Storm Dust Storm
Blowing dust reduced the visibility to less than four miles at times.
Dust Storm Dust Storm
Blowing dust reduced the visibility down to less than 1/4 mile at times.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Window Rock Airport set a new record high of 97F for the day. The old record was 92F set in 2011.
Dust Storm Dust Storm
Strong wind caused blowing dust to reduce the visibility to near zero at times all afternoon in Chinle. The southwest winds blew this dust from Chinle into the Chuska Mountains. The Window Rock ASOS reported reduced visibility in haze (dust) down to 2.5 miles at times between 100…
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 0 |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 |
| 2017 | 3 | 0 |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 |
| 2009 | 7 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 3 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 9 | 0 |