Frost/Freeze — Greater Phoenix Area, Arizona

2014-12-27 · Greater Phoenix Area, Arizona

Event narrative

A very cold upper level low pressure system moved into the lower deserts of central Arizona during late December, and ushered in freezing conditions during the morning hours on December 27th. Freezing or subfreezing temperatures occurred over much of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area; the official ASOS stations at both Scottsdale and Deer Valley reported low temperatures of 32 degrees or lower. Colder outlying areas, including communities such as Queen Valley and Chandler, experienced low temperatures in the low to middle 20s Saturday morning. The cold temperatures were sufficient to cause widespread damage to sensitive vegetation such as decorative or ornamental plants. A Freeze Warning was issued from midnight through 0800MST for the greater Phoenix area; despite similarly cold low temperatures occurring on the morning of Sunday December 28th, a freeze warning was not issued for that day. Instead, a Special Weather Statement was issued highlighting near-freezing morning temperatures on December 28th.

Wider weather episode

A deep and cold upper level low pressure system moved into Arizona on December 27th, and it ushered in freezing temperatures to the lower southwestern and south central deserts. Freezing temperatures were widespread across the deserts during the morning hours on Saturday December 27th, and as such a Freeze Warning was issued for all of the lower deserts east of the lower Colorado River valley. The freezing temperatures damaged area crops and frost sensitive vegetation, including ornamentals and decorative plants. Freezing temperatures persisted over the south central deserts during the morning hours on Sunday December 28th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 555238. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.