HikeArizona.COM

The endless chatter of weather.

Looks like the bulk of the rain has stopped across the valley, with a disappointing .25-.33 across most of the flatland, and only .5-.66 in the foothills north and east.

Happy to see the first rain since mid-December, but would've liked to see more. Might still have to water the lawn today! I hope it keeps dumping snow in the mountains during the day at least.

Tucson NWS is already reporting clear skies in western AZ and mentioning they may have to pull back precip forecasts. Even if the lower deserts get only a 1/3 of an inch and the Pusch Ridge area gets 1/2 an inch of snow water equivalent, that would be great. Being this last late in winter, the models don't always handle the storms well, it seems, but any real water is great. Last April, the new growth on the oaks, those which were growing in Finger Rock Canyon, was drying out and falling off due to the drought. Maybe that won't happen this year with some late season rain and snow. It would help out the grasses that are greening up, too.

We got a little rain before turning over to snow. It's a nice wet snow that is melting, which I prefer to powder that sticks around.

My rain gauge showed 1/2 inch around N Phx - 101 & Cave Creek Rd. My garden is happy, happy, happy!

Raining again here in the NorthWest Valley right now.
I was awakened in the 4 O'Clock hour this morning with heavy storms blowing through

Dime size hail this afternoo in Gold Canyon.

Rain and hail ruined the 2012 Cyclovia in Tucson today - we got about 1/2 an inch at my place. Didn't stop a few of us hearty souls, though. I got out anyway with my puppies for a 5 mile city hike. Wish Arizonans weren't such wimps when it comes to weather. In Portland, this would have been a balmy spring day! :SB:

Californians, too. A friend of mine refers to Southern Californians as "weather sissies."

We had three bouts of "thunder-hail" this afternoon. Pellet sized around 12:30, pea sized not 1/2 an hour later followed by dime sized. Big enough to crack my windshield. Wild weather! But the Supes sure looked pretty with all the snow

I didn't catch any hail in Goodyear today, but there were a handful of brief, heavy streams of rain later in the afternoon. It's going to be so nice out tomorrow.

But those same people from the PNW moan and cry about a temperature over 75 degrees, our sun is too strong for them, and most of them love foggy and mist. Weird. Same for a lot of Flaggers. Real Arizona people like it when its 95 and it has be over 110 to be hot.

@Patrick L
Can you tell if the White Tanks got any snow???? I just looked at the local forecast and they are now calling for the weather to stay "unsettled" through tomorrow, clearing out by Tuesday. Back up in the 80's by mid week.....

As far as I know, they didn't. The chance for it dwindled away as the storm drew closer and the forecasts adjusted. It says 20% chance of rain and snow tonight, and 30% tomorrow at the highest point. I'll know for sure tomorrow, but all I'm expecting is some ice patches.

writelots wrote:Wish Arizonans weren't such wimps when it comes to weather.

I posted similar sentiments in my triplog. I spent a couple of hours on South Mountain today. It was beautiful. And there was hardly another person out there. On a Sunday in march!

The way I look at it is the number of pleasant days in the 40s that I can hike in the desert each year can be counted on one hand. Take advantage!

53 inches so far at Snowbowl. I-17 is finally open again ... I should go!

We had 11.5 inches at my house in Payson this morning... and was still snowing.. hit snow and rain coming down the hill last rain on McDowell... at about 7ish... http://www.schursastrophotography.com/webcam.html

It looks like just about everywhere I care about got a lot of moisture. 24" of pretty wet snow in Flag, 53" on the Peaks at 11,000', and the Tucson area recorded pretty good figures, over much of the area. Near Pima Canyon, a rainlog location reported 7/10ths of an inch, so I expect the Pusch Ridge and bulk of the Catalina-Rincon Mountains got around 3/4 to 1 inch, at the higher elevations at least. A lot of the low desert and grasslands in SE AZ did well, too. I guess the only real question is: How did Costa Rica do?? ;)

Jim_H wrote:It looks like just about everywhere I care about got a lot of moisture. 24" of pretty wet snow in Flag, 53" on the Peaks at 11,000', and the Tucson area recorded pretty good figures, over much of the area. Near Pima Canyon, a rainlog location reported 7/10ths of an inch, so I expect the Pusch Ridge and bulk of the Catalina-Rincon Mountains got around 3/4 to 1 inch, at the higher elevations at least. A lot of the low desert and grasslands in SE AZ did well, too. I guess the only real question is: How did Costa Rica do?? ;)

It rained on the mountains in Costa Rica, and on the Caribbean coast, but continued to be very hot, sunny and dry on the Pacific side where I live. This weekend I experienced a drizzle at the Orisi Valley, and cool temperatures in the capital of San Jose. I had to wear a sweater some of the time. It wasn't really cold, just by comparison. I didn't wear long pants or enclosed shoes, just the lightweight fleece sweater.

I am wondering how much wet snow occurred in Eagar, also. White Mtn. Independent reports roads are open but snowpacked and icy. Elksnet (Round Valley Schools in Eagar) reports that they had a 2-hour school delay this morning, and did not run the out of town buses to Nutrioso, Greer, Vernon, etc. Other than that it is difficult to find a snow report for Round Valley (Springerville/Eagar). If you click on NOAA you get the St. John's airport, which is more than 1,000 feet lower in elevation, and always has totally different weather.

Snowing in Safford and sticking!

NWS reports 1" in Eagar, 1" in Window Rock, 4" in Concho, 5" in Alpine, 12.5" near McNary. Sunrise says 24-32".