Weather

Actions

MOST ACCURATE FORECAST: Big winter storm hitting Arizona!

Posted at 6:11 AM, Feb 22, 2022
and last updated 2022-02-22 23:36:44-05

PHOENIX — A big winter storm is hitting Arizona.

Snow showers are starting in the high country and more significant, widespread snowfall is coming Wednesday morning as the core of this storm moves through.

Winter Storm Warnings are in effect along the Mogollon Rim, in the White Mountains and across parts of northeastern Arizona through Wednesday evening. These spots will see the biggest impacts statewide.

Winter Weather Advisories cover much of the rest of northern and eastern Arizona, too.

Snow levels will fall to around 4,000 feet by Wednesday morning.

We could pick up 1 to 4 inches of snow above 4,000 feet, 4 to 8 inches of snow above 5,000 feet, and as much as 8 to 16 inches of snow in spots above 7,000 feet.

Travel will be hazardous across the high country, especially tonight and Wednesday with the potential of blowing snow and reduced visibility. So, use caution or avoid travel if possible.

Here in the Valley, our best rain chances come Wednesday morning through the early afternoon.

With the rain potentially impacting our commutes and bus stops across the Valley, Wednesday will be an ABC15 Weather Action Day. Take action to prepare for the rain now.

We could pick up around a quarter to half an inch of rain in some Valley locations, with as much as three-quarters of an inch in the foothills to our north and east.

As the cold air arrives Wednesday morning, we could even get a dusting of snow on some of the mountain peaks just north and east of the Valley.

There's also a slight chance we could see some thunderstorms in the mix. If we do, there's a chance we could see some graupel, too. (That's a softer version of hail, also sometimes called snow pellets.)

As this storm moves in, temperatures are plummeting. We'll be more than 20 degrees cooler Wednesday than we were this past weekend.

After hitting 80 degrees on Sunday, temperatures will struggle to reach the mid to upper 50s Wednesday afternoon.

Overnight lows will get colder, too. Phoenix will drop to 39 degrees by Thursday morning, putting much of the rest of the Valley within a few degrees of a freeze.

Deep freezes are expected across the high country with many spots in the single digits by Thursday morning.

We'll dry out and start to warm up again by the end of the week as this storm heads east.

Expect highs back in the 70s again over the weekend across the Valley.

_________________________________________

2022 Rainfall totals:

Sky Harbor Official Rainfall: 0.12" (-1.40" from average)

Valley Average (Phoenix Rainfall Index): 0.17"

_________________________________________

2021 Rainfall totals:

Sky Harbor Official Rainfall: 5.58" (-1.01" from average)

Valley Average (Phoenix Rainfall Index): 7.16"
__________________________________________

Daily rainfall reports from all across the Valley can be found here.
__________________________________________

PHOENIX IS GETTING DRIER - LOWER RAINFALL AVERAGES NOW

Average Monsoon Rainfall in Phoenix (1981-2010): 2.71" of rain

NEW Average Monsoon Rainfall in Phoenix (1991-2020): 2.43" of rain

Average Yearly Rainfall in Phoenix (1981-2010): 8:03" of rain

NEW Average Yearly Rainfall in Phoenix (1991-2020): 7.22" of rain
__________________________________________

Share your weather photos and videos with us anytime.
Email share@abc15.com.
______________________________________

See the full 7-Day forecast

Interactive Arizona Radar