Flagstaff may be submerged by snowfall, but hope is in sight as temperatures are predicted to warm soon. Thursday saw an accumulation of 2.9 feet that covered roads and led schools including Flagstaff Unified and Embry-Riddle to close for safety concerns.
This page includes monthly and annual data regarding how much snowfall Flagstaff usually experiences each month and year, along with its initial and last snowfalls for each season. We also provide details regarding when Flagstaff typically experiences its first and last snowfalls of each year.
October
Flagstaff lies 29 miles away from Sedona but their climates and seasons vary significantly, necessitating different attire. While you might only require light jacket for Sedona hiking in October, a heavier coat might be required when climbing Flagstaff mountain peaks in October.
Growing seasons typically begin around May 10 or after June 17 and end by September 13 or after October 19.
Humidity refers to the amount of moisture present in the air. This measurement is defined by dew point temperature – this point marks when water vapor condenses to form droplets in the atmosphere and condenses into droplets that condense into liquid form – with lower dew points signaling greater humidity while higher ones indicate reduced it.
November
November marks the final month of autumn and temperatures begin to decline as Flagstaff transitions to winter – this includes lower average daily temperatures as well as increased snowfall.
Flagstaff typically experiences snowfall for 2.5 days out of each month, reaching depths of up to 2.6 inches in some locations.
Flagstaff has not only seen significant snowfall on Christmas, but over a thirty year period from 1981-2010 has experienced it 17% of the time!
December
Flagstaff was completely submerged under an incredible snowfall by Winter Storm Quiana, breaking records at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport and covering it in its path.
Snowfall in northern Arizona has helped ease drought conditions. But it will take time before normalcy returns.
Arizona Snowbowl ski resort, situated just north of Phoenix, has had an exceptional year so far this year. A recent snowstorm added to an already existing snowpack, increasing skiing opportunities while providing respite from wildfire risk in the Mogollon Rim region and nearby high altitude terrain, decreasing fire risk until summer arrives.
January
Flagstaff typically sees 7.9 inches of snowfall each January, enough to blanket its streets several feet deep.
Flagstaff saw its fourth snowiest January ever this month, according to Salt River Project meteorologist Bo Svoma. He says this snowpack will help replenish reservoirs while alleviating statewide drought conditions.
Svoma describes 2017 as being “very beneficial to snowpack”. The high country already reached its maximum mid-January snowpack since 2010, helping alleviate drought across Arizona. SRP reservoirs currently hold 70% capacity allowing runoff to fill them efficiently and alleviate drought issues in this way.
February
An unusually strong snowstorm has dumped heavy snow across northern Arizona, prompting winter storm warnings. Some locations have seen accumulations reaching 15 inches or more.
The 2022-23 meteorological winter has been one of the snowiest on record since records began being kept in the late 1800s. Heavy snowfall has increased Flagstaff’s average annual total by over 113.5 inches!
Flagstaff winters typically begin in October and run until May, though their weather can vary widely from year to year and month to month depending on El Nino conditions; February sees less snowfall days than other months of the year, while annual totals can range anywhere from 11.2 inches during a drought year up to over 200 inches during an El Nino event.
March
Flagstaff saw lower snowfall than is typically experienced, yet still managed to set a record for longest continuous snowfall streak.
Flagstaff’s average growing degree days for March were generally consistent within their 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands, showing little variance from month-to-month.
At Thursday afternoon, several highways had been shut down due to the recent winter storm. That list began shrinking as soon as weather cleared up; perhaps soon there will be relief from snow, perhaps followed by dry conditions – or maybe next winter storm could come soon?
April
Flagstaff averages an 8% chance of precipitation during April, with 3 mm falling on an average day.
2022-23 is shaping up to be an unprecedented snowy year at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport Office of National Weather Service, already recording 146.7 inches from July through Wednesday.
Flagstaff experiences heavy snowfall throughout wintertime – from early December to late February – often reaching up to 10 inches at any one time. Heavy snowfall usually falls six times annually in Flagstaff with seven consecutive days seeing the greatest accumulation in January and four in February receiving heavy accumulation; by April most of it has typically melted away.
May
Flowers bloom along the trails winding through Ponderosa pine forests and granite mountains in May. Campbell Mesa is an especially scenic 40-mile loop paved with bike lanes that offers breathtaking views of Mount Eldon.
On wet days, it usually rains or snows for some portion of the day, or any day with any measurable precipitation at any time during that day. These are known as wet days.
On average, Flagstaff sees an average rainfall of 3.1 inches during May. Furthermore, 1 day saw measurable snowfall – well below the national average of 7 days! Most wet days were caused by rain; however some featured mixed snowfall and rainfall events. Snowfall levels don’t fluctuate much from year-to-year in Flagstaff.
