Heavy Snow — Northern Greenlee, Arizona

2006-03-11 to 2006-03-12 · Northern Greenlee, Arizona

Wider weather episode

A strong and cold Pacific storm system moved down the west coast and into Southern Arizona, bringing the first significant winter storm to the Desert Southwest. As the system moved through Southeast Arizona it brought significant snowfall to the mountains as well as some much needed precipitation to the valley's. Reports of a quarter inch to over an inch of rainfall were reported throughout Southeast Arizona, with the Tucson International Airport reporting 0.22 inch for storm total rainfall. Most other locations reported more than a quarter inch of rainfall with several stations reporting over an inch. Many locations reported snowfall, with only two stations reporting heavy snow criteria amounts. Hannagan Meadow Lodge (9100 feet) in Greenlee county reported a storm total snowfall amount of 24 inches while Mt. Lemmon Ski Lodge (8200 feet) in Eastern Pima County reported 18 inches of storm total snowfall. Several lower elevations also reported some snowfall with the Town of Vail (3500 feet) receiving 3 inches, the City of Oracle (4500 feet) receiving 3 inches and Kitt Peak Observatory (7000 feet) reporting 8 inches. Snow levels from the Tucson area and south dropped quite low, with the lowest accumulation appearing to be near 3500 feet.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5494619. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.