2019 Arizona Snowstorm

This was my view for several days as I watched it snow, and snow, and snow, until it reached 20 inches, an unheard of amount for a Yarnell, Arizona snowstorm.  Get ready for a lot of photos, many from my phone because I was lazy.

I’ve been snowed in before.  Heck, I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, with lake effect, and almost debilitating windchill factor.  It’s all about being prepared.  I stocked up on groceries, filled extra water jugs in case pipes broke, backpacker stove with canisters, and all flashlights with fresh batteries in case the power went off.  It didn’t, but if it had I’d have moved into the camper for propane cooking and heat.

As predicted, it began to snow Wednesday night by the time I was going to bed, big fluffy flakes.  And in the morning, a winter wonderland with probably six inches and still falling hard.

My heart goes out to the hummingbirds on this cold windy white day as they perch 18 inches from the feeder.  Such strong little survivalists, they are out flying and preforming in an Arizona snowstorm.  And all I did was step outside long enough in the morning to hang their feeder.  I have to admire that kind of tenacity.

By afternoon, what looks like a female perches on the feeder for measurable time with the male watching on. The feeder hangs out of direct falling snow but not the wind. How I wish I could do more for them. I’ve taken many photos through the dirty door glass.

At one point I thought of dressing up to go into the storm.  But that idea quickly passed as I don’t own the right kind of wardrobe.  By bed time it looked like at least 16 inches on the ground and still falling.

Friday greeted with a white and quiet world buried under 19-20 inches of wet heavy snow.  Even when the sun briefly broke through, the snow still fell on and off throughout the morning.  Temperature rose just above freezing and melting set in with dripping icicles.  Yet it continued to snow lightly.

Snow slowly slid off the metal roof.  And then suddenly dropped with a huge thunk startling me and the cat, every time.

The cedar tree out back was heavily weighted and leaning badly.  I’m glad it didn’t break under the load.

By late afternoon the sun brightened the scene washing out any color with almost blinding light and began to push through blue patches between drifting clouds.

Then during a colorful sunset over the mountains it began to snow again.  I brought in the hummingbird feeder as the temperature was predicted into the teens.

The hummingbirds were anxiously awaiting the feeder Saturday morning at 17°.  Clear blue sky with bright sunshine sparkling on the snow and icicles.  Rabbits came out of nowhere and their tracks were all over.

I shoveled a little of the flagstone stoop and spread bird seed to the eagerly waiting crowd.

Sierra braved outside, with me watching, walked to the end of the car and back on top of the snow.

I attempted to make a snow woman to look like a fertility goddess.  Don’t laugh.  Use your imagination.  Didn’t last much longer than getting a photo.

That afternoon the plow came by making several sweeps on my road which of course left a huge berm at the end of the driveway.  The one thing I didn’t think about before the storm was where I parked the car, 150 feet from the road.  Good thing I hadn’t planned on going anywhere until it melted a whole lot more.  Temperatures predicted in the 50s for the next week would take care of that.

Although Sunday morning started at 0° the brilliant sunshine accelerated melt so that by noon the snow depth was down to eight inches.

I was really glad to have bought like-new snow boots at a thrift store early this winter.  And having found a snow shovel before the snowmageddon used it like a walking stick.

Because the road was plowed, I walked down to the bridge over the wash which was barely running.

I probably wouldn’t have gone out at all except for some work related papers I needed that were in the 5th-wheel parked next door.

Monday brought more melt.  I tried to clear snow off the car but still didn’t plan to drive out through 4-6 inches of sloppy wet snow on top of slippery mud.

Sierra tried to walk on top but ended up high centered and didn’t go far.

With another bright and sunny morning Tuesday I knew I should try to get out.  And just as I went out the door a friend arrived with a 4×4 pickup truck and drove in and out several times crushing the snow into tracks.

I drove into town because I could, and to pick up a week’s worth of mail.  County was still scooping up the four foot pile of snow down the middle of the main drag, US89.

For the rest of the week temperatures continued with highs in the 50s and by Saturday when it rained there were only small patches of snow left in shadows.

We are now back to business as usual heading quickly towards spring.  Seems like we have a new marker for our little town, the 2013 Yarnell fire and now the 2019 Arizona snowstorm.