12/29/14 – NWS Flagstaff Weather Briefing
(Cold Winter Storm on Wednesday, Thursday)
Overview
A very cold airmass and cut-off low will develop over the Southwest, and bring a significant winter storm to the Northland Wednesday and Thursday. The most significant period of snowfall will be from Wednesday through early Thursday.
This will be the first significant winter storm for many areas of Northern Arizona, and the impacts of the event will be magnified by the busy travel period of the New Year’s Holiday, and the unusually low snow levels.
The cut-off nature of the storm also adds some uncertainty in the timing of the event…but there is greater certainty in the overall impacts (low snow levels, snow amounts). Elevations above 5000’ will see at least 5-12” of snow, with elevations between 3500’ and 5000’ expecting 2-6”. Expect snow and snow impacts to drop to the valley floors by Thursday morning.
Stay tuned to our most current forecasts on our web page (weather.gov/flagstaff). Specific forecast details and impacts will evolve with time.
Timing: Snow should begin across Yavapai and western Coconino Counties by Wednesday morning…and spread to Apache and Navajo Counties (and the eastern Rim and White Mountains) by Wednesday afternoon. The period of greatest accumulations is currently anticipated to be from noon on Wednesday through early Thursday. Snow showers, some locally heavy, will continue Thursday afternoon.
Specific Snowfall Forecasts by noon Thursday:
Flagstaff: 6-12” (Locally higher amounts)
Prescott: 3-7” (6-12” in the Bradshaws)
Page: 2-4”
Heber / Overgaard: 5-10”
Window Rock: 4-8”
Verde Valley: 1-4”
Payson: 3-7”
White Mountains: 5-10” (Locally higher amounts)