A powerful winter storm hit northern Arizona December 7th and 8th.  This storm produced heavy snow,  strong winds,  and limited visibility in the high country.  In the lower terrain,  this storm produced heavy rain,  damaging winds, and severe thunderstorms.  Freeways were closed due to snow and blowing snow,  hunters were trapped by heavy snow and falling trees,  and over 400 hundred cars slid off the roads.  The storm resulted in the largest search and rescue operations in Coconino County with nearly 50 people located from the Grand Canyon to Happy Jack.  The Department of Public Safety dispatch center in Flagstaff received 3,000 calls for service within the first 24 hours of this storm.  There were close to 550 slide offs and motorist assists, 83 non-injury collisions, and 26 injury collisions across northern Arizona. More than 14,000 customers were without power after the storm passed. Heavy rains loosened soil around boulders allowing them to fall on roadways. This storm caused school closures across the area.

Heavy Snow in BLACK MESA AREA, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Ten inches of snow fell in Keams Canyon.

Heavy Snow in NORTHEAST PLATEAUS AND MESAS FROM HIGHWAY 264 NORTH, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Eighteen inches of snow fell in Pinyon.

Heavy Snow in NORTHERN GILA COUNTY, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 06:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 06:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Northern Gila County received up to 18 inches of snow with this storm.  A man froze to death about a mile and a half from his truck north of Young.

Heavy Snow in WHITE MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 06:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow reports from the White Mountains include: Show Low 6 inches,  McNary 16 inches,  and Pinetop 10 inches.

Heavy Snow in GRAND CANYON COUNTRY, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Eighteen inches of snow fell at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Heavy Snow in EASTERN MOGOLLON RIM, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 05:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The Eastern Mogollon Rim received significant snowfall:  Clay Springs 12 to 13 inches, Forest Lakes 24 inches, and Heber 8 inches. Forest Lakes had 55 MPH wind gusts at 200 AM with downed power lines and trees.  As many as 50 hunters were trapped in the woods due to the deep snow.  Some of the hunters needed assistance while others were able to wait out the storm.

Heavy Snow in NORTHERN GILA COUNTY, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 05:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Payson received 6 inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in WESTERN MOGOLLON RIM, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 04:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 00:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy snow fell across the Western Mogollon Rim.  One neighborhood in southwest Flagstaff reported 26 inches of snow with other locations in town came in with 20 inches.  Parks received 19 to 24 inches, Munds Park 18 to 24,  Williams 20 inches,  and the Arizona Snowbowl 21 to 32 inches (9200 and 10,800 feet elevation). I-17 was closed several times about 40 miles south of Flagstaff when vehicles wrecked because of the snow.  There were at least 52 calls to the Department of Public Safety for slide offs, 18 collisions, and 8 injuries.  Flagstaff Police Department responded to at least 42 collisions in the city with two minor injuries.

Heavy Snow in KAIBAB PLATEAU, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 04:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Two feet of new snow was reported with this storm.

Heavy Snow in COCONINO PLATEAU, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 18:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 06:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Seven inches of snow fell in Seligman.  Six to fifteen inches of snow fell in the Ash Fork area.

Heavy Rain in YAVAPAI, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 08:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: BAGDAD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A weather spotter in Bagdad reported 3.88 inches of rain in 24 hours.

High Wind in YAVAPAI COUNTY MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 21:30:00 to 08-DEC-09 00:50:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 400.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Very strong winds knocked over a 70 tall-two foot thick-ponderosa pine tree about 20 miles east of Camp Verde.  The tree fell on a man sleeping in a tent.  The man was struck in the head and died instantly.  A friend in the tent was not injured.  Measured wind speeds include:  Prescott Love Field: 74 MPH, Crown King (Horsethief Basin RAWS) : 69 MPH,  and Mingus Mountain 70 MPH.  About 5000 homes lost powers during the storm.  At least 60 large trees fell throughout Prescott.  Thirty trees had to be cut and removed from roadways.  At least six trees fell on homes. Other trees fell on parked cars. Many homes and businesses reported roof damage or destruction.

High Wind in LITTLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY IN NAVAJO COUNTY, ARIZONA
From 08-DEC-09 01:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The ASOS at the Winslow Airport reported a peak wind gust of 69 MPH.

High Wind in NORTHERN GILA COUNTY, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 01:30:00 to 07-DEC-09 03:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Strong winds caused extensive damage to the roof and porch of the Humane Society of Central Arizona in Payson early morning on December 8th as a strong cold front passed.  The winds peeled the tin roof back, tore off shingles,  and blew off two swamp coolers.

High Wind in YAVAPAI COUNTY VALLEYS AND BASINS, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 21:30:00 to 08-DEC-09 00:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 68.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Spotters and Mesonet sites across the lower elevations of Yavapai County reported very strong winds as the cold front moved through.  Some of the highest wind gusts include:  Chino Valley 78 MPH (screen door torn from house in Chino Valley),  66 MPH in Camp Verde, Crown King and Sunset Point 77 MPH.

High Wind in LITTLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY IN COCONINO COUNTY, ARIZONA
From 08-DEC-09 00:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 01:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A Highway Observing site at Two Guns reported peak wind gusts of 69 MPH.

High Wind in EASTERN MOGOLLON RIM, ARIZONA
From 08-DEC-09 00:40:00 to 08-DEC-09 02:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind gusts to 60 MPH were measured in the Heber-Overgaard area.  The Mogollon Airpark reported a peak wind gust of 70 MPH.

Blizzard in WESTERN MOGOLLON RIM, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 23:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 02:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard conditions developed as the cold front moved through Bellemont.  The winds were sustained up to 50 MPH with gusts to 70 MPH with zero visibility in snow and blowing snow. Over 20 inches of snow had fallen in the 20 hours before the front arrived and was piked up by the strong winds.  There were power outages in Flagstaff.  Trees and tree branches were knocked down by the winds.  I-40 was shut down from Ash Fork to Winslow.  The Flagstaff Airport had a peak wind gust of 53 MPH and Doney Park 65 MPH.

Heavy Rain in YAVAPAI, ARIZONA
From 07-DEC-09 05:30:00 to 08-DEC-09 01:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: OAK CREEK CANYON ARP
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A weather spotter reported 2.20 inches of rain in 20 hours in Sedona.  Heavy rain in Prescott caused flooding and $15,000 damage to Skyview School in Prescott.