Heavy Snow — Black Mesa Area, Arizona

2005-01-03 to 2005-01-05 · Black Mesa Area, Arizona

Wider weather episode

A powerful winter storm began to move across northern Arizona on January 3rd and lingered into early January 5th. Widespread snowfall was reported above 5000 feet with generally 4 to 12 inches of total snowfall from 5000 to 6000 feet...12 to 20 inches from 5000 to 7000 feet...and 20 to 45 inches above 7000 feet. Heavy rainfall also occurred with the storm with elevations below 6000 feet along and south of the Mogollon Rim receiving generally one to two inches of rainfall. Some elevations between 5000 to 6000 feet saw heavy rainfall turn to snowfall during the event as snow levels lowered.Two teenagers week killed on January 3rd when their car slid on ice and hit a truck south of Hon Dah.Some storm snowfall totals (in inches) inclued: Alpine 7.5, Bellemont 25.4, Munds Park 18.5, Crown King 8.0, Payson 8.0, Flagstaff 35.0, Pine 10.0, Forest Lakes 37.0, Prescott 4-8, Grand Canyon North Rim 14.0, Grand Canyon South Rim 9.0, Greer 18.0 Hart Prairie 34.0, Heber 8.0, Williams 23.5, Jaacob Lake 12.0, Yarnell 7.0, Pinetop 13, Fort Defiance (8000') 12, Arizona Snowbowl ski resort (10800') 47, Sunrise Ski resort 33, Mormon Lake 25, Black Mesa 8-12, and Witeriver 8-10.For the city of Flagstaff...the storm total snowfall reached 35.0 inches during this storm...which made this event the 9th snowiest storm since weather records began in 1898. The 2-day total of 32.4 inches of snowfall was the 6th highest 2-day total since 1898. Record snowfall of 13.6 inches was recorded on January 3rd along with record snowfall of 18.8 inches on January 4th. The 18.8 inches of snow on January 4th was the 14th snowiest calendar day on record. 800 homes were without power in Walker (southeast of Prescott) when wet heavy snow broke the power line feeding into town.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5438697. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.