HikeArizona.COM

The endless chatter of weather.

@Nighthiker Ya, I think you'll find 4x4s aren't much better on ice than any other vehicle. Found that out after livng in MN for umpteen years and watching the Ice Capades on Hwy 52...The 4x4s were involuntary stars of the show...

Is there much snow on the mogollon rim? I'm thinking about putting some more miles on my snowshoes on Jan 1st or 2nd.

As of today, it appears that there's a range of about 15-35" from Happy Jack to Forest Lakes.

Outdoor Lover wrote:The 4x4s were involuntary stars of the show...

Some people think their four wheel drive makes them invincible, or at least the ability to drive like they would on dry pavement....of course I've seen plenty of people in their lifted two-wheel drive pickups with huge tires do the same thing. Part of it is a macho "my vehicle is better than yours" type of think that doesn't translate very well in adverse driving conditions. That said, I would still rather have a 4x4 or all wheel drive car in the snow or ice, it's still extra traction, and is especially helpful if you do manage to get stuck, you just can't use it as an excuse to drive like an idiot.

azhiker96 wrote:Is there much snow on the mogollon rim? I'm thinking about putting some more miles on my snowshoes on Jan 1st or 2nd.

I like xc skiing, and would say it was plenty for that. However, I was just passing through. I am now at the beach in Oceanside. Well, actually, I'm one block from the beach. The quickest way from Eagar to Oceanside takes me past Forest Lakes.

azbackpackr wrote:The quickest way from Eagar to Oceanside takes me past Forest Lakes.

I always smile when somebody mentions that place. It's also the name of my community, which isn't on the quickest way to anywhere.

Jim_H wrote:We're getting a lot of changing leaves and its going to increase in the next week.
The US observes solar seasons where spring and fall begin when the sun's most direct rays pass over the equator and winter and summer begin when the most direct rays are at their height on the respective tropics. NZ appears to follow meteorological seasons where 9/1, 12/1, 3/1, and 6/1 are the start of their spring, summer, fall, and winter, or the opposite for us.

viewtopic.php?f=47&t=4061&start=220#p43414

Going all the way back to page 12 of this thread, we discussed this. I was interested to read today that the National Weather Service also observes meteorological seasons. Which makes me wonder what part of our government doesn't? Or how calendar makers and news media decided that they prefer something different from the official government agency?

Anyway, the most interesting fact I read is that in Phoenix, the average for the 3 months of coldest temperatures is actually November 23-February 23rd. So winter is actually 33% over already!

WINTER HAS BEEN UNDERWAY AT LEAST SINCE 1 DECEMBER. THE OFFICIAL
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEFINITION OF WINTER IS FROM THE 1ST DAY IN
DECEMBER TO THE LAST DAY IN FEBURARY. ON AVERAGE...THE COLDEST
3 MONTH PERIOD IN THE YEAR IN PHOENIX IS FROM ABOUT THE 23RD OF
NOVEMBER UNTIL ABOUT THE 23RD OF FEBRUARY. THUS...WINTER BEGINS
MUCH EARLIER THAN THE WINTER SOLSTICE.

Full details posted in the solstice thread: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6632#p77826

chumley wrote:So winter is actually 33% over already!

That's NOT a good thing, Todd

Just started snowing in Safford (2900 ft elev)

@AzWaterRat Really? That's a little unusual, don't ya think? Is it sticking? How cold is it there?

Outdoor Lover wrote:@AzWaterRat Really? That's a little unusual, don't ya think? Is it sticking? How cold is it there?

We get snow in town about every 3-4 years, right now it's 35 deg and not sticking yet.

It snowed again? Huh, it was clear out here, I think. Snowbowl reports 5 new inches, and a 20" base at 9500' to 35" at 10,800'. It's a Solstice Miracle! Sol Invictus bless us, everyone!

Ski the Lemmon states they have 1 new inch for a base of 44 inches. Good for the Puebloans.


BTW: this may be an odd question coming from me, but does anyone have an idea of how Elden is with regard to snow? I would like to hike that Monday.

Jim_H wrote:BTW: this may be an odd question coming from me, but does anyone have an idea of how Elden is with regard to snow? I would like to hike that Monday.

Your source for Elden is playing with her bike on the beach in CA.

I went hiking here in California yesterday, too! I did see some snow, way up on Cuyamaca Peak, in the distance.

Passed through Flagstaff yesterday, there was about 8-12 of snow on the ground in the woods outside of town.

High pressure for the next week or so, I hope. We need a good storm, but I would like a rain line in the low 6,000' level. I would prefer rain over snow, but snow in the mountains. Maybe later next week would be fine.

Yes, looks like driving back to Eagar will not be as dicey as it was driving over here, where I ran into all that glassy ice on 260 near Forest Lakes last week.

Revised winter outlook with an explanation to why it's been so wet and cold so far: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/images/twc/Arti ... layer.html

The summary is something like this: It's been cold and wet due to the AO, an unpredictable weather feature that we didn't expect and you shouldn't pay any attention to. Remember it's a La Niña and this winter will be dry and warm anyway. Don't believe what you see.

While I know the low deserts and my area could use a few more good moist storms between now and early March, I could also enjoy a winter like we are experiencing now.

Jim_H wrote:I could also enjoy a winter like we are experiencing now.

Unfortunately, this is what most people call spring.