HikeArizona.COM

The endless chatter of weather.

Outdoor Lover wrote:I don't know about some of the other parts of the Valley, but the Central, South Phoenix and South Scottsdale areas are just getting a ton of rain. It's pouring again and I was constantly getting rained on at work all day.

The storm totals so far are mostly above what was predicted. The SRP gauges show that the southeast valley, AJ, east Mesa, and Fountain Hills have all received from 1.25" to 1.75" ... a nice total for a winter storm. The central and east central cities (Phx, Scotts, Tempe) are almost all between .5 and 1.0".
Of course the west side shows it's inferiority again with less than .5" from Avondale to Glendale to Peoria.

There's still a chance of a few showers overnight, but the low is ejecting quickly now so it probably won't result in much in the valley.

My backyard total was up to 1.12 after work today and will probably be a little higher by the morning.

All-in-all, the forecast was low for the valley, and overdone for the western rim area. I think the south and east parts of the state have had a pretty good winter storm.

Let's hope we get some more on Fri/Sat, despite the latest forecast saying it'll be a dud.

I reckon the late week storm is a dud, every time there is a storm after a large one, it's dry and overblown. Might get a little dressing powder, but I expect it won't be much.

Getting back to rivers, the Colorado River below Laguna Dam, near Yuma, is running really high for that section right now, at 2200. I am not even sure it would be safe to kayak it at that flow, for someone with my skills (or lack thereof) since in that riverbed it would normally be running well under 1,000. Now, ABOVE Laguna and Imperial Dams, 2200 would be kind of LOW.

At Holbrook, the LCR has started to come up a bit. The Verde at Camp Verde has come up a bit, as well. But nothing huge. And the Upper Salt (see Chrysotile values) as well, a teensy bit. Hope there will be lots of snow on Mt. Baldy this winter, because that is what fuels the upper Salt for the spring river running season. However, don't confuse the upper Salt, which is a wild river with no dams upstream, with the lower Salt where you might go inner tubing. The lower Salt is regulated by dams.

Only 12" total for Snowbowl. They might not open after all.
26" for Sunrise. Lookin good over there!

Only about 8" at the Fort Valley snow stick.
Workman Creek 20"
Promontory Butte 25"
Hannagan Meadow 18"

For rain, the Supes and mountains north and east of Phx received over 2".

Where do you find your snow depth values? I didn't know there was info for Hannagan, for example. Could you post the link? Thanks.

1.25" @ my house in downtown Tucson - and the Catalinas were white down to about 4000' yesterday evening. Good news for a spring wildflower bloom, and for spring water sources. Of course, it's also just nice to see, looking out your window!

azbackpackr wrote:Where do you find your snow depth values? I didn't know there was info for Hannagan, for example. Could you post the link? Thanks.

I get them from the automated Snotel sites. They don't actually measure snowfall, only snow depth. So if the snow depth has increased by 25" over the past two days, an official snowfall reading would certainly be more than that (snow settles and compacts over a 2-day period). But it is still good data to have. There's one on Baldy too. You'd be amazed at how much less snow Baldy gets than Sunrise reports... :roll:

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/Ari ... izona.html

chumley wrote:

azbackpackr wrote:Where do you find your snow depth values? I didn't know there was info for Hannagan, for example. Could you post the link? Thanks.

I get them from the automated Snotel sites. They don't actually measure snowfall, only snow depth. So if the snow depth has increased by 25" over the past two days, an official snowfall reading would certainly be more than that (snow settles and compacts over a 2-day period). But it is still good data to have. There's one on Baldy too. You'd be amazed at how much less snow Baldy gets than Sunrise reports... :roll:

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/Ari ... izona.html

Thanks. It also shows a photo of the measuring device--I was looking at the Beaverhead one. I've seen those things before but never knew much about them.

Some of us like to find them while hiking. They were around long before the whole geocaching craze was even born.

NWS Flag has storm totals on their website now with 33.0" in Forest Lakes. I have a difficult time believing this data.

There is a webcam and snowstick in Forest Lakes. After the last storm, some irritating db decided to dig around the stick and make the stick pop out of an artificial mountain of snow. BUT that artificial mountain showed 2 feet of snow before the storm and it shows about 33" total right now. So unless some other location about a mile down the road got more than double the snowfall at the webcam/snowstick location, the NWS report has to be totally incorrect.

Ski the Lemmon opens Friday, they have no totals posted, but it will be interesting to see who got more, them or the Peaks. Sunrise has a lot, too. With the last storm and how well Tucson did, I could see the Lemmon having more than Snowbowl.

I keep hoping Friday's forecast will be changed to "sunny" instead of "10% chance of snow before 11 a.m." I have to walk at least a mile to get to the Dome for graduation, and I would just as soon walk in the sunshine. (No way am I going to mess around with all that traffic and parking. I'd rather walk there from my daughter's house.)

azbackpackr wrote:I keep hoping Friday's forecast will be changed to "sunny" instead of "10% chance of snow before 11 a.m." I have to walk at least a mile to get to the Dome for graduation, and I would just as soon walk in the sunshine.

The first snow I saw in AZ was when my sister-in-law graduated from NAU in December of '95. I thought it was the coolest thing ever, even to walk in. Afterward, I drove on 40 and 66 to CA and the sight of snow falling on the cholla and sage brought tears to my eyes. It was one of those times I had to stop the car and wander outside for a bit to smell and taste the wonder of it.

However, I wouldn't want to wade through it in a graduation costume, nor do I feel the same way about snow on NJ oak trees.

Well, I am carrying the funny hat and the gown, and a nice pair of shoes in a bag, and wearing sneakers to walk down there. I'll give the sneakers in the bag to my daughter to hold for me. I could prance down there in full regalia (I'm sure it's been done before) but I'm not doing that. I'm borrowing my daughter's cap and gown. She could start a rental business with that one gown! She has loaned it out before.

azbackpackr wrote:a nice pair of shoes in a bag

You just reminded me that I've never seen anyone but lawyers wearing nice shoes in Flagstaff.

Define, "nice". You must mean an eastern, up-tight, conservative, but liberal, leather shoes that conforms to some ideal of how a shoe is required to look. Usually from the Victorian era, too.

Anyway, the next storm might have a little more to it for the rim and highlands region. Not so much for down south, or up here, but the Peaks could pick up some very light powder, as would the Baldy area.

Actually, am wearing a pair of Minnetonka moccasins to graduation. They have a rubber sole, very flat. So, the fact that I am not wearing old sneakers or Tevas means I am wearing "nice" shoes. I have never owned a pair of high heeled pumps in my entire life.

So, back to the weather. Sunny, chilly, windy. Airport says 13 with windchill.

azbackpackr wrote: I have never owned a pair of high heeled pumps in my entire life.

That's odd when I picture you I see high heels and fishnets...
Oh wait, no that would be PLC73523105836

Jim_H wrote:Define, "nice".

Anything you wouldn't step in a puddle with.

Alston Neal wrote:That's odd when I picture you I see high heels and fishnets...
Oh wait, no that would be PLC73523105836

If you want to order your own set:
I can give you the name of my cobbler...