Flagstaff, Arizona is no stranger to snowfall; with four distinct seasons and winter being one of them. Snowfall is almost certain during this season.
Northern Arizona saw one of its highest monthly snowfall totals ever recorded since 1898 this January. When this snow melts away in February and March it will recharge underground aquifers while helping SRP fill its reservoirs.
Temperatures
Flagstaff temperatures fluctuate greatly throughout the year. Summer days tend to be comfortably warm and dry while winter can bring colder temps with more precipitation, particularly in January. Overall, due to its higher elevation, Flagstaff tends to remain significantly cooler than Phoenix.
Humidity levels also fluctuate throughout the seasons, and low humidity can cause many undesirable symptoms like cracked skin, itchy eyes and nasal congestion. Below is the daily averages for temperature and dew point in Flagstaff along with minimum, maximum and median values from each month as reported from weather observations in nearby stations (including Flagstaff itself) which has been adjusted for elevation differences using the MERRA-2 satellite-era reanalysis program.
Flagstaff has experienced an increase in degree days over a year, with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands depicting them for comparison purposes. These indexes take into account factors like daylight duration, Sun elevation above the horizon and cloud absorption to produce an estimate of available solar energy.
Snowfall
Phoenix — Snow has fallen across Arizona, with Flagstaff particularly hard hit. According to the National Weather Service, this winter could become one of the five snowiest since records began being kept back in 1898.
A snowy start to 2023 has produced memorable conditions at Arizona Ski Bowl. A series of powerful storms has dumped abundant powder days for local skiers and snowboarders; however, this snow has also caused major road closures across one of Arizona’s major highways.
Interstate 40 was closed between Kingman and Flagstaff for almost five hours Wednesday night due to wintry conditions, leaving traffic backed up for miles with traffic lane closures keeping motorists trapped on the freeway. Arizona Department of Transportation crews were dispatched to help stranded drivers exit and return on their travels.
Flagstaff weather differs significantly from Phoenix due to its higher elevation. At 6,910 feet, temperatures in Flagstaff tend to be 20-30 degrees cooler at any given time of day year-round than Phoenix; climate differences vary more significantly due to four distinct seasons; snowfall can start as early as October or as late as March in Flagstaff; major blizzards that deposit 10 inches or more are rare, yet snowfall may remain intense for multiple days at a time.
Weather
Flagstaff, Arizona is nestled into high mountain forests, featuring four distinct seasons that bring mild summer days, golden autumn colors, snowy winter days and meadows of wild flowers in springtime. Flagstaff is famous for its breathtaking natural beauty as well as outdoor recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, mountain climbing and skiing.
Flagstaff experiences significant variations in average hourly wind speeds throughout the year, with windiest periods occurring from January 30 to July 2 with average hourly winds exceeding 7.3 miles per hour; whilst more sedate conditions last 6.9 months from July 2 until January 30.
Flagstaff experiences significant variation in its rainfall throughout the year. Rain alone typically falls during 8.4 months from March 20 to December 2, with August being the wettest month with 10.9 days. Mix precipitation occurs most frequently between February and April.
Flagstaff experiences wide variation in its humidity comfort level throughout the year. Winter sees humidities peaking at 87%; they reach their lowest point during summer when it drops to 71%. This chart displays typical daily temperature patterns in Flagstaff over each month of the year along with their percentage chance of being within the growing season (growing degree days). Data comes from hourly weather reports from three stations near Flagstaff.
Activities
Flagstaff’s mountainous terrain makes it the ideal place for outdoor adventure year-round, offering something for skiers and snowboarders at Arizona Snowbowl; hikers will appreciate San Francisco Peaks or Humphreys Peak; Native Americans can explore Wupatki National Monument or Walnut Canyon National Monument to discover pueblo sites or cliff dwellings to learn about history.
Flagstaff Volcanoes and Ruins Loop Scenic Drive offers visitors an exciting way to experience these landscapes created by nearby volcanoes, while Bearizona Wildlife Park features both drive-through and walk-through sections to give visitors an experience filled with black bears, wolves, reindeer bison and bighorn sheep!
Flagstaff Extreme offers an exhilarating outdoor adventure, featuring suspended challenge courses and zip lines strung between towering Ponderosa pines. There are bridges, swings and nets as well as high-flying zip lines! For something even more thrilling, try out Flagstaff Extreme!
If you prefer staying landbound, Heritage Square hosts Movies on the Square events with outdoor movies shown under a tent; Yoga on the Lawn offers downward dog classes; local food and art can be found at the Downtown Community Market; Wheeler and Thorpe parks offer playgrounds, FUTS trails and picnic areas, while Thorpe Park features northern Arizona’s premier disc golf course and racquetball courts are great places for fresh air relaxation and recreation.
