Heavy Snow — Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons, Arizona

2023-02-26 · Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons, Arizona

Event narrative

Five inches of snow was reported in Sedona at an elevation of 4,400 feet. Six inches of snow was reported at The Village of Oak Creek at 4,200 feet elevation.

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 1083516. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.