Heavy Snow — Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau, Arizona

2023-01-14 to 2023-01-17 · Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau, Arizona

Event narrative

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 and emergency due to the storm. An emergency operations center was activated. Many roads needed the snow cleared...lower elevation roads were soggy/muddy. Food, water, and propane bottles were delivered to Chapter Houses and to residences across The Navajo Nation through the end of January as this and other storms impacted travel across the area.

Wider weather episode

The third in a series of storms moved across northern Arizona with more snow. Snow was still falling form the second wave in eastern Arizona by the time snow started to fall from the third wave in western Arizona.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1077494. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.