SNOW ON FOUR PEAKS
It seems like it happens every winter when we get a few chilly days and a little rain in the Phoenix area.
The weather clears a bit and we look up at the mountains to the north and east and ask, is that snow?
Yep, it’s snow.
The Four Peaks, about 40 miles northeast of Phoenix, are part of the Mazatzal Mountain range. The highest of the Four Peaks — Browns Peak — reaches 7,657 feet of elevation. (The highest point in the entire range is Mazatzal Peak at 7,903 feet.)
There has been snow on the Four Peaks a few times since late Decemberwhen storms blew through the area. Folks have been happily posting pictures of the winter conditions on social media.
But snow on the Four Peaks is not that unusual at this time of year, said Mark O’Malley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix.
“That’s common,” O’Malley said. “That happens maybe a couple of times every winter where you’ll get snow on Four Peaks. It’s only during the really dry winters you won’t (get any snow) because of a lack of storms. But at that elevation, it’s not uncommon to see it.”
Precise amounts and frequency of snowfall up there are elusive because the National Weather Service does not have a reporting station on the Four Peaks.
It’s not even unheard of to get a few flakes at lower elevations. On Feb. 21 and 22, 2019, there was snow in north Scottsdale and Cave Creek. Prior to that, the last time there was snow in these low-lying areas was 2015, according to the Weather Service.
O’Malley said it’s probably because we’re so accustomed to hot weather that people think snow on the mountains is an anomaly.
“I guess when you’re dealing with 100 or 110 degrees in the summer, you say, ‘Is that snow?’ ” O’Malley said.
Here’s how to see the snow on Four Peaks
If you’re interested in taking your own pictures the next time there’s snow, drive north on State Route 87 to Four Peaks Road (Forest Road 143). It’s about 26 miles northeast of Mesa. Turn off the highway and park along FR 143. You can walk toward the peaks to frame your shot.
Remember that you’re still in the desert. The ground is covered with cactus and shrubs, so wear pants and sturdy shoes, not shorts and flipflops.
Don’t drive up into the mountains in bad conditions. The dirt-and-gravel road degrades in rain and snow. In good conditions, high clearance and four-wheel drive are recommended.
Reach the reporter at weldon.johnson@ariz onarepublic.com. Or follow him on Twitter at @weldonjohnson.