Northern Arizona still without snow as dry winter drags on

PHOENIX — A vast majority of northern Arizona was still waiting to receive its first big snowfall of the year Tuesday as a dry winter dragged on.

The National Weather Service said Flagstaff averages about 18 inches of snow by Dec. 12, while Show Low normally receives 2.6 inches and Prescott has about 2.5 inches.

But so far this year, no snow has fallen. It was one of the longest waits for snow on record and it didn’t appear to be ending anytime soon.

Check out the places that got snow Friday (before Flagstaff), right down to the Gulf Coast! Looks like we will go at least another 7 days without snow in Flagstaff, which will put us in 11th place for latest first snowfall (records back to 1898). #azwx pic.twitter.com/EYUPhsrOnU

— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) December 9, 2017

Temperatures were also expected to continue to be warmer than normal.

Dry and mild weather will continue for at least the next week across northern Arizona. #azwx pic.twitter.com/h7qUUflyWv

— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) December 11, 2017

High temperatures in Flagstaff were expected to be in the mid-50s for the rest of the week, while overnight lows will be in the 20s.

The warm weather will likely trouble staff at Arizona’s ski resorts.

Only one has opened so far this season. Arizona Snowbowl makes its own snow, but it was forced to delay its opening twice because the weather would not cooperate.

The resort finally let skiers and snowboarders onto slopes the week before Thanksgiving but has been forced to open the rest of the park — including a new ski lift — in stages.

Sunrise Ski Resort, in eastern Arizona, had received no snow as of Tuesday.

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