HikeArizona.COM

The endless chatter of weather.

I like the sneaky storms that don't really register in the longer-term models and just keep looking better and better in the short term. Suddenly, the next 2-3 days might net better results than the last two systems that have brushed the state. Or maybe I'm just excited because there's finally a chance for a few inches of snow down to 5 or 6kft for the first time this season.

I cannot remember the last time an all day steady rain like this. I did a hood walk this morning in my long neglected rain jacket. Really nice.

@RedRoxx44
Yes, I see almost 3/4 of an inch of rain on Mount Hopkins today (no idea about snow on Wrightson as it has been in the high 30s on Hopkins for the rain), and well over an inch for 2026. Plus, about an inch of rain in several small storms between Christmas and Jan 1. At least in the Ritas, it's a much better winter than last year.

The forecast I saw called for up to 6 inches of snow at 9,000' in the Ritas, and a foot in the Catalinas. Wish I could see it. Oh, well.

https://forecast.weather.gov/product.ph ... suedby=TWC

a listing of the totals around SE Arizona. Pretty substantial.

1.5 inches of rain at my home in Payson.

News outlets announcing that California as a whole is out of their drought status for the first time in 25 years. Not so most of the rest of the southwest.

RedRoxx44 wrote: ↑Jan 10 2026 7:25 am News outlets announcing that California as a whole is out of their drought status for the first time in 25 years. Not so most of the rest of the southwest.

Meanwhile, much of NJ is now in "severe drought", parts of it for the third year in row.

@RedRoxx44
I saw that. But all of San Diego's reservoirs are low. I call pumpkin on this pronouncement.

@azbackpackr
A drought monitor that changes weekly is sort of laughable as far as I'm concerned.

Ski the Lemmon may be reporting 12 inches from the last storm, but they also report it isn't sufficient to operate the resort. Snowbowl reports 18 inches fell over the last week. Respectable.
But:

https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/ ... ns/610day/
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/ ... /index.php
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/p168i12.gif

Doesn't look like much of any rain or snow for AZ, and the upper Colorado Basins over the next 2 weeks.

https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/ ... php?lead=2
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/ ... php?lead=3
Beyond that, continued dry and warm for the 4 corners.

Interestingly, the Upper Colorado Basin is actually having it's driest snow water year of the 30 year period.
https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/su ... Headwaters

Powell continues to draw down, but that is expected until snow melt begins.