Feb 2019 Major Winter Storm

Preliminary Storm Report for Feb 2019 Major Winter Storm
By NWS Phoenix -- last updated at 615 PM on 25 Feb 2019

A cold, stormy winter weather pattern had settled across the Southwest US for much of early and mid February. Several storm systems of various strength passes through the region, but the final one on February 20-22 caused widespread significant impacts to the region. Record rain and snow, low elevation snow, graupel, and record cold temperatures were all observed. A detailed list of storm reports can be found here

Analyzed snowfall amounts (inches) from 5 AM Wed Feb 20, 2019 to 5 AM Sat Feb 23, 2019. Data from NOHRSC.

Analyzed rainfall amounts, including liquid from melted snow, for Feb 20-22, 2019.

Radar image at 5 PM on Thu Feb 22, 2019. Click image for full event loop.

Facts about this storm:

• The 1.01" of rain on Feb 21, 2019 set a new daily record for Phoenix (previous 0.73" in 1973).
   
• Phoenix set a new daily record for coldest high temperature (47°F) on Feb 21, 2019. [link]
• Phoenix also tied a daily record coldest high temperature (55°F) on Feb 22, 2019.
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• The last time snow was observed in the Phoenix area was Dec 31, 2014 - Jan 1, 2015.
   
• Phoenix officially observed 17 straight hours of measurable (0.01" or more) rainfall, which was the fifth longest such stretch on record. [link]

Pictures from the storm (click on picture for full size): 

North Valley Snow

(courtesy Sean Benedict)	(courtesy City of Florence)	(courtesy Rob Schumacher)
(courtesy Todd Temple)	(courtesy Andrew Peerenboom)	(courtesy Lisa Ann Photography)
(courtesy Andrew Peerenboom)	(courtesy Geoff Gephart)	(courtesy social media)

Valley Hail/Graupel

(courtesy Jeff Watkins)	(courtesy Jeff Watkins)	(courtesy Jeff Watkins)
(courtesy Mike McCormick)	(courtesy Storm Spotter)	(courtesy Eugene Mitofsky)