If you’re looking to answer the question “does it snow in Arizona?”, then you’ve come to the right place!
Does it snow in Arizona? If you’ve found yourself asking the question – perhaps you’ve craving some festive cheer and you want a weekend of the white stuff to get you in the festive mood!
Snow in Arizona is magical, and we’ve found some amazing places (listed below) where you’ll find snow in Arizona!
Our guide below will answer your burning questions, including:
“Does it snow in Arizona?”
“When does it snow in Arizona?”
“Where does it snow in Arizona?”
When you’re visiting an area during wintertime, you probably want to spot snow.
So, to ensure you visit the best areas for snow in Arizona, we’ve put together a handy list that will give you the best chance of seeing snow during your vacation.
Although it may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of snowfall in the USA, there is a great deal of snow in Arizona each year.
In fact, when people ask, “does it snow in Arizona?”, we always give a hearty “yes!” in response.
It’s impossible to say for certain how much snow you’ll see each year as snowfall can vary. However, Arizona sees an average of 75 inches of snow each year.
If you didn’t know, that’s an incredible amount!
Does it snow in Arizona? here’s everything you need to know…
As we’ve mentioned, when we’re asked, “does it snow in Arizona?”, we always say “yes”. Sure, you may not see as much snow as you’d see in Colorado or Minnesota, but the level of snow in Arizona is nothing to scoff at.
It’s not always easy to answer the question “does it snow in Arizona?”, as each region sees different levels of snowfall.
However, if we had to recommend the best place for seeing snowfall in Arizona, then we’d say Northern Arizona is your best bet. Flagstaff and Williams see 103.6 inches and 73.8 inches per year.
So, if you want to see guaranteed snow during your trip to Arizona, be sure to hit these places up!
Although Central Arizona and Southern Arizona see respectable levels of snow, you’re better off checking out the higher elevation areas in the northern and southeastern parts of the state.
In these parts, you’re basically guaranteed to see snow in Arizona!
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When does it snow in Arizona?
Now that we’ve adequately answered the question “does it snow in Arizona?”, let’s move on to answering, “when does it snow in Arizona?”.
After all, the last thing you want to do is rock up at the wrong time and miss those gorgeous flurries.
As you might expect, the best time to see snow in Arizona is during the wintertime. Winter in Arizona runs from December through to mid-April, so you have plenty of time to get to Arizona for snow spotting.
However, if you really want to experience the best of winter, we highly recommend heading to Arizona during January or February.
These months tend to be the coldest, so you’re likely to see the best quality snow during these periods. Flagstaff and Payson get particularly frosty during winter, so if you’re wondering “where does it snow in Arizona?”, we’ll be sure to cover these places in more detail.
Read more about winter travel: The ultimate guide to spending Christmas in NYC
Although the question “when does it snow in Arizona?” is relatively easy to answer, we always warn travelers to pack the right gear for their trip.
Arizona gets intensely cold during the winter months, and you really don’t want to be caught off guard. Layering is key, and you can’t go wrong with a proper winter coat!
Don’t forget though – cold weather is a glorious reason to stop for a hot chocolate, so it’s not all bad!
Where does it snow in Arizona?
If you’re planning to visit Arizona this winter, you may want an answer to the question “where does it snow in Arizona?”.
Should that be the case, simply read ahead for our top recommendations that will have you playing in the snow in no time!
Flagstaff
If you’re wondering “where does it snow in Arizona?”, then you needn’t look further than Flagstaff. Not only is this spot one of the best answers to the question “where does it snow in Arizona?”, but it happens to be stunningly beautiful.
With a 7000-foot elevation, this spot is basically guaranteed to see impressive snowfall every year. Typically, Flagstaff sees 75-80 inches of snow every single year, and there are periods where you’ll get snow each day.
If you want awesome settled snow, then we recommend visiting Flagstaff in January or February.
Skiing is extremely popular here, so if you’re looking to hit the slopes on your Arizonan vacation, then Flagstaff has got your back.
As we’ve mentioned, Arizona can get extremely cold during the winter months and Flagstaff is no exception. So, be sure to have your wooly hat and suitable shoes to hand!
Of course, the skiing opportunities here are incredible, but this spot is also perfect for travelers looking for some TLC.
With amazing architecture and plenty of quaint cafes and boutiques on offer, this is a spot that perfectly answers the question “where does it snow in Arizona?”.
Read more about winter travel: Does it snow in Texas?
Arizona Snowbowl
The Arizona Snowbowl is the perfect example to use when trying to answer the question “does it snow in Arizona?”.
The Arizona Snowbowl always sees snow and is actually a dedicated skiing area. This ski resort sits up in Mount Humphreys, so the elevation ensures that you’ll see snow every year.
The Arizona Snowball is extremely popular around the holidays, but January is the best month to visit for skiing and snow.
With 55 amazing ski runs and an amazing gondola to boot, this is a must-visit area in Arizona that we would recommend to anyone asking, “where does it snow in Arizona?”.
Read more about winter travel: Does it snow in Oregon?
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is impressive at any time of year. However, it turns into a veritable Winter Wonderland between December and April.
As this place is at an elevation of 7000 feet, it sees winter storms and incredible snowfall annually.
Obviously, we don’t recommend visiting The Grand Canyon during a snowstorm, the aftereffects of these events are amazing.
What makes the Grand Canyon one of our favorite answers to “where does it snow in Arizona?” is the fact that it’s quiet and serene during winter.
With fewer visitors around than in summertime, plenty of wildlife out and about, and blankets of luscious snow, there’s a reason this spot is so popular.
Read more about The Grand Canyon: Top 8 locations to see The Grand Canyon
Sedona
Sedona is an incredible place to visit during the wintertime. Although it’s bitterly cold here, it’s one of the best places to see snow in Arizona.
We don’t recommend this for the faint of heart, but if you handle cold temperatures well, why not head along the Cathedral Rock Trail?
It’s only 1.4 miles, so it’s manageable for most. You’ll see plenty of glorious landscapes and local wildlife along this trail and it’s one of our places to visit in Sedona.
If you prefer shopping to hiking, be sure to check out the iconic Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village.
Packed with souvenirs and artisanal shops, this is one of the spots on our list that perfectly answers the question “where does it snow in Arizona?”.
Read more about Sedona: 19 fun things to do in Sedona with kids
Tucson
Tucson is one of those must-visit spots in Arizona that we’d recommend to anyone. It doesn’t receive as much snow as Flagstaff, but it sees approximately 1.5 inches per year. Hey, we get it – that’s quite a dip!
However, what Tucson doesn’t offer in snowfall it more than makes up for in attractions. Among the best things to do in Tucson is Saguaro National Park.
Not only is this park packed with fascinating cacti, but it sees regular snowfall too! So, if you’re wondering “where does it snow in Arizona?”, we’d say that Tucson is a decent answer.
If you’re not one for national parks but love skiing, then why not check out Mount Lemmon Ski Valley? This area sees plenty of snow and is perfect for both amateur and professional skiers.
Whatever you choose to do in Tucson, you’re sure to have an incredible time!
Prescott
If you’re looking for a genuine Winter Wonderland, then we can’t recommend Prescott enough. This is one of the places we always mention when anyone asks, “where does it snow in Arizona?”.
This is because it’s packed with character and festive things to do. Sure, you’ll only see around a foot of snow each winter, but the amazing activities here more than make up for the reduced snowfall.
One of the best things to do in Prescott during Christmastime is the Christmas lights display.
Extremely colorful and accompanied by parades and general merriment, this display is something in Prescott that is not to be missed.
We hope that this post has answered the questions “does it snow in Arizona?” and “where does it snow in Arizona?”
We understand that it can be tricky to catch amazing snowfall in any state, so we hope this guide comes in handy!
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