Heavy Snow — Yavapai County Valleys and Basins, Arizona

2023-02-26 · Yavapai County Valleys and Basins, Arizona

Event narrative

A person reported 5 inches of snow in Paulden at 4, 400 feet elevation. 4.5 inches of snow was reported 7 miles west of Chino Valley.

Wider weather episode

An upper-level low just off the Southern California coast brought a moist southerly flow across northern Arizona. Strong frontogenetical forcing ahead of the low promoted the development of a band of moderate to heavy rain/snow showers mostly above 5000 feet. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inch per hour (or more) hit parts of northern Arizona...with snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches...and locally higher amounts.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1083515. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.