Snowfall -- how can this be? (Tempe, Prescott: house, live in, dangerous)

[Randall999]

So I am comparing the average snowfall for Prescott against where I currently live, Duluth MN, and it just makes no sense-- how can Prescott have so much snow, almost exactly like here in northern MN? I want to move away from Duluth MN because I can not stand six months of snow and ice on the ground out of the year, but it looks like I would just be jumping out of the skillet and into the frying pan?

Prescott and Duluth-- not much difference?

[keninaz]

Somebody is out of their mind with that chart.
I live in South West Prescott and have been here for just over two years. We get about as much snow as anywhere in town.
We have had unusual events but overall a couple of inches as a time and them over time is about it. I have talked to many locals and snow over 6" or so is unusual here with some exceptions in time of course.
We have seen some storms drop 6" or so here or a little more but it does not last long.
The only problems I have with snow here is cleaning off the sat dish as it faces the direction the storms come from.
What snow we do get is handled very nicely by the city and the roads are always in good shape.
And I will take our temps over yours any day!

Here are your averages~

Average Weather for Duluth, MN - Temperature and Precipitation

And here are ours~

Average Weather for Prescott, AZ - Temperature and Precipitation

[DellNec]

During the 1910's thru 1980's, Prescott was averaging 25" - 45" of snow every year. Then in the 1990's, a serious shift in the climate caused everything to dry up.

For example, in 1987 over 32" of snow fell in February, 10" in January and in March 5". For a total of 47" for that year. Overall, the average from the 1910's - 1980's was around 25" - 45" of snow every year in Prescott.

In 1932, a record 100" of snow, over 8 feet of it, fell in Prescott!

As mentioned, starting in the 1990's - 2009, Prescott is now averaging 10" of snow a year. TRAGIC AND DEADLY!

Here is why, the drought and water supply in the area are at dangerous levels. They have to dig new wells and tap into an aquifer in Chino Valley. They then have to pipe this water all the way to Prescott, if they don't, Prescott will no longer have water for its residents.

On top of that, fire. This area is due for a huge fire. With the lack of snow, the Ponderosa trees will burn and burn hard. Something like the magnitude of California fires, is coming for Prescott. One FD I talked to said such a devastating fire is due for this area. It's only a matter of when.

[DellNec]

Originally Posted by keninaz

Somebody is out of their mind with that chart.

I live in South West Prescott and have been here for just over two years.

No they are not!

You have only been in Prescott for 2 years, one cannot judge the climate of an area by simply residing in it for 2 years. We are in a 100+ year drought.

During the 1910's thru 1980's, Prescott was averaging 25" - 45" of snow every year. Then in the 90's, it all dried up and we are losing our water supply, as well as our forest, wildlife and our entire eco-system.

[keninaz]

Funny, I have had over 19" of rain and moisture at my house recorded by my WX station. I have had 2.57" of rain this month. That's above the 30 years average for this area by the way.
And fire when you live in the forest is unavoidable unless the little ones are allowed to burn and they do controlled burns and cleanups.
WE got too efficient putting out the little ones and would not let nature take it's course.
Lessons learned, just the facts.
My wife used to work for and retired from the Forest Service.

[keninaz]

Originally Posted by DellNec

No they are not!

You have only been in Prescott for 2 years, one cannot judge the climate of an area by simply residing in it for 2 years. We are in a 100+ year drought.

During the 1910's thru 1980's, Prescott was averaging 25" - 45" of snow every year. Then in the 90's, it all dried up and we are losing our water supply, as well as our forest, wildlife and our entire eco-system.

OK, well my neighbors have been here for 35 and 42 years. They tell me that they got more snow in some years than others but nothing like you are talking about.
And, in totaling all snowfalls at my house over the last two winters I would say I have had 18-22" total each year. Only 2 storms that we had stayed on the ground more than just a day or two.
The long term residents tell me this is quite typical for this area.
If it dried up in the 90's as you say then I would say in 20 years that we have had a climate change as it's been 20 years!
Then again I am not sure where you are or where you are getting your information.

[Zonie5]

what has to be realized that all weather has cycles . i live 50 miles North of Prescott and have kept chart of my snow, rain and high-low temps for around MY house since 1997 . so far my charts are holding true to statistics . i think the weather bureau uses 30 year averages .

[keninaz]

I believe you are correct.
I have a nice WX station but it does not measure snow, just the moisture content.
And it gives me records back to when I moved here and the WX the previous time that I lived in SE AZ before I moved up here.
I am not sure what the limit of it's memory is.
This is what I come up with when I try to find information and this is from the NASA site!

What Climate Means
In short, climate is the description of the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area.

Some scientists define climate as the average weather for a particular region and time period, usually taken over 30-years. It's really an average pattern of weather for a particular region.

[DellNec]

From 1915 - 1933 / Prescott snowfall amounts in inches

30
53
57
24
45
30
17
54
25
20
20
11
28
9
58
71
5
100 - all time record
77

[DellNec]

From 1934 - 1954 / Prescott snowfall amounts in inches

26
13
53
7
44
7
16
30
3
31
26
17
6
32
70
17
30
46
20
27
19