Heavy Snow — Upper Gila River Valley, Arizona

2004-02-03 to 2004-02-04 · Upper Gila River Valley, Arizona

Event narrative

Mt Graham recieved 12 inches of snow for the event.

Wider weather episode

A winter storm off the California coast dropped down across Arizona on the 3rd and 4th, producing heavy snow across Southeast Arizona. The total precipitation amounts were produced from two impulses rotating around the system, with the first impulse producing the bulk of the heavy snow over Eastern Pima, Greenlee, and Graham counties. Snow levels initially started out around 5000 to 6000 feet and then dropped down to 4000 feet by Wednesday morning. There were widespread reports of one snow in Greenlee and Graham counties. Also, in Cochise county, the Wilcox cooperative site reported one to two inches. This storm system did not receive the tropical moisture tap which left valley rainfall amounts only ranging from 0.10 to 0.50 inches.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5385924. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.