Rare Southwest Snow events

wxnut · #1 Postby **wxnut** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 6:34 am

The Los Angeles thread grabbed my interest in rare snow events in the Southwest. I found this info over at Intellicast, and if I find more I will post it.

December 11, 1985-
Phoenix, AZ had their first measurable snow (0.1 inch) since February 2, 1939.

December 13, 1987 -
a developing winter storm buried El Paso, TX with 16.8 inches in 24 hours, a record, and a storm total of 22.4 inches. Record cold occurred during and after the storm with temperatures in the single numbers.

December 25, 1987-
Tuscon, AZ residents awaken to their first white Christmas in 47 years as 4 inches blanket the area.

wxnut · #2 Postby **wxnut** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 6:43 am

Here is a link to a photo of some snow in Phoenix that I found. Since I did not take the photo, I will not post the pic itself.

http://www.silverladder.com/photography/shanesnow.htm

JCT777 · #3 Postby **JCT777** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 9:45 am

Nice info and pic link.

azsnowman · #4 Postby **azsnowman** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:19 am

I can't remember what year it was, maybe 3 years ago (dang CRS anyways).......the opening day of the Phoenix Open was postponed until the snow could be removed from the greens, fairways at TPC in Scottsdale.

Now where I'm at, our normal (if there is such a thing as normal anymore) snowfall is 132" per year, I total my snowfall from 1 Jan to 31 Dec (calendar year), just 24 miles to my east, it's over 210" per calendar year.

Dennis

wxnut · #5 Postby **wxnut** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 5:25 pm

I found these pics of a snowfall in Tucson, AZ taken in January 2002. For the record, Tucson does see a little more snow than Phoenix, but it is still rare.

http://www.sammcconnell.com/tucson_snow.htm

Anonymous · #6 Postby **Anonymous** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 5:36 pm

wxnut wrote:The Los Angeles thread grabbed my interest in rare snow events in the Southwest. I found this info over at Intellicast, and if I find more I will post it.

December 11, 1985-
Phoenix, AZ had their first measurable snow (0.1 inch) since February 2, 1939.

December 13, 1987 -
a developing winter storm buried El Paso, TX with 16.8 inches in 24 hours, a record, and a storm total of 22.4 inches. Record cold occurred during and after the storm with temperatures in the single numbers.

December 25, 1987-
Tuscon, AZ residents awaken to their first white Christmas in 47 years as 4 inches blanket the area.

I believe El Paso also had a White Christmas two years ago. While up here in PA we were green :-?

weatherlover427 · #7 Postby **weatherlover427** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 8:12 pm

We haven't had a white Christmas in my area (at least that I can recall in my 21 years

) but I do recall snow on at least two or three occasions.

Colin · #8 Postby **Colin** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 8:53 pm

December 13, 1987 -
a developing winter storm buried El Paso, TX with 16.8 inches in 24 hours, a record, and a storm total of 22.4 inches. Record cold occurred during and after the storm with temperatures in the single numbers.

:o :o :o That's all I can say!

wxnut · #9 Postby **wxnut** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:14 pm

I did a little extra research on El Paso for you Colin, and for others who are interested. Here are some interesting stats:

Take a look at the record low maximum and the record low minimum on 12/10 and 12/11/1962. Highs of 17 and 19 and a low of -8 are kind of unbelievable.

DATE MAXIMUM LOW/MAX MINIMUM HIGH/MIN
10 72/1953* 17/1962 1/1962 49/1916
11 72/1953 19/1962 -8/1962 53/1911

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/elp/climat/elpjanrec.shtml

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Here is the only pic of snow in El Paso that I could find. Looks like it was taken at the airport. For anyone who doubts the validity of the pic here is a link.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/elp/climat/snow.shtml

Rare Southwest Snow events

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