Arizona ski resorts are seeing significant snowfall, particularly in the Flagstaff and White Mountains regions. The heaviest recorded snowfall in the past 24 hours is at Fry, AZ, with 191 inches, and Mormon Mountain, AZ, reporting 188 inches, though these figures may be anomalies. The surrounding area, including Arizona Snowbowl, has a solid snowpack, with sites like Snowslide Canyon showing 44 inches and a fresh 8-inch snowfall. The 5-day forecast suggests moderate snowfall across the state, with areas like Baker Butte and Happy Jack expecting up to 5 inches. Sunrise Park Resort in the White Mountains is also seeing accumulation, with nearby Maverick Fork showing 204 inches of snow depth.
Flagstaff, home to Arizona Snowbowl, is poised to benefit from the incoming snow, with Fort Valley registering fresh snowfall and a 185-inch snowpack. The Mogollon Rim region, including Baker Butte and Mormon Mountain, has a steady base with light snowfall projected. In the White Mountains, Hannagan Meadows and Baldy areas report snow depths around 6 inches, with 3-5 inches expected in the coming days. Cities like Flagstaff, Payson, and Pinetop-Lakeside may see travel impacts as snow accumulates on roadways. For the best snow conditions, Arizona Snowbowl and Sunrise Park Resort remain top choices, with consistent snow depth and additional snowfall in the forecast.
Ski Area | Air Temp (F) | Snowfall | Snowpack | vs Avg | SWE | 24hr Forecast | 72hr Forecast | 120hr Forecast |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | 0 | 11 | +224% | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
25 | -2 | 11 | +91% | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
29 | 2 | 6 | +30% | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
19 | -1 | 48 | -8% | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arizona may not be the first state that comes to mind when you think of skiing, but it actually has several great options for hitting the slopes.
One of the most popular resorts in Arizona is Sunrise Park Resort, located in the White Mountains. With an average snowfall of around 200 inches per season and a peak elevation of 11,000 feet, this resort offers a variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. The best month to visit Sunrise Park is typically February or March.
Another great option is Arizona Snowbowl, located just outside of Flagstaff. This resort boasts an impressive 260 inches of average annual snowfall and a top elevation of 11,500 feet. Snowbowl is known for its challenging terrain, with plenty of steep runs for advanced skiers and snowboarders. The best time to visit Snowbowl is typically from December through February.
In terms of ski history, Arizona has an interesting connection to the sport. The first organized ski race in the United States actually took place in Arizona in 1915, on the slopes of Mt. Lemmon near Tucson. The state also used to be home to a ski resort called Mount Elden, which operated from the 1940s through the 1970s before closing due to financial troubles.