Heavy Snow — Western Mogollon Rim, Arizona

2008-12-15 to 2008-12-18 · Western Mogollon Rim, Arizona

Event narrative

Snow began falling over the area during the afternoon of December 15th. By the morning of December 18th, there was about two feet of new snow on the ground at the 7000 foot level. The snow caused many traffic accidents, power outages, and business/school closures and/or delayed openings. The City of Flagstaff Police responded to 80 slideoffs, 61 non-injury collisions, and nine injury collisions during this event. Coconino County sheriff deputies responded to 35 slideoffs and 10 non-injury collisions. Between Williams and Flagstaff, 10 to 13 inches of snow had fallen by the evening of December 16th. A spotter at near 9000 feet had a storm total of 38 inches. Munds Park had 14 inches of snow by 8 AM on the 16th with snow still falling.

Wider weather episode

A large scale trough of low pressure brought two back to back storms to northern Arizona over much of a four day period. These storms brought close to two feet of new snow over the Western Mogollon Rim at 7000 feet and close to four feet of new snow above 9000 feet. The first storm was cold enough to lower the snow level to the floor of the Grand Canyon. The snow level rose to the 7000 foot level for an hour or two with the second storm. Dring this event the Department of Public Safety for northern Arizona responded to 188 slideoffs on highways in the northern region. Officers also responded to 65 collisions, 12 of which involved injury. Two people were transported to Flagstaff Medical Center to be treated for their injuries.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 137962. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.