Winter Storm in Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains, Arizona

Heavy snow accumulations of 10 to 14 inches combined with winds gusting to 40 mph caused blowing and drifting snow in the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains. Mount Lemmon Highway remained closed at the base due to the heavy snow.

A pair of winter storm systems moved across Arizona January 24 through 26. The first brought moderate snow accumulations to several mountain ranges above 6000 feet on January 24. Mt. Lemmon Highway was closed at the base as a result. Thunderstorms produced hail and gusty winds at lower elevations. The second storm brought widespread heavy snow to southeast Arizona above 3500 feet, and even brought slushy snow accumulations and slippery road conditions to parts of the greater Tucson Metro area. The bulk of the snow fell from the evening of January 25 through the morning of January 26, and was accompanied at times by wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph. Snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches occurred between 3500 and 5000 feet with 6 to 12 inches from 5000 to 7000 feet and 12 to 20 inches above 7000 feet. The additional snow forced the closure of Mt. Lemmon Highway near Tucson to continue, and also triggered closures of Highway 191 north of Hannagan Meadow and Route 80 near Bisbee.