While much of the country enjoyed a solid winter, the Southwest wasn’t so lucky. Most storms stuck to a more northerly track, leaving spots like Arizona high and dry—until March brought a bit of relief. And then came the silver lining: on April 18th, Arizona Snowbowl set the U.S. 24-hour snowfall record, serving up a rare dose of April powder turns and a bonus weekend in May! Now that’s how you end a rough season on a high note!
WAY Below Average Snowpack
Wondering just how rough it’s been? For chionophiles (aka snow lovers), April 1st is the go-to benchmark—it’s typically when snowpack hits its seasonal peak. But this year, the area around Arizona Snowbowl clocked in at just 57% of normal based on SWE (snow water equivalent). Yeah… pretty slim pickings.
Miracle March… Refreshing April
While Tahoe’s long held the moniker for Miracle March, this year it might just belong to Arizona Snowbowl. March hit hard—with 27 inches in just 24 hours on March 8th! And by mid-month? They were already buried under more than 100 inches of new snow. Talk about an unexpected powder party.
Late Seasons Kings of the Southwest
Even though it calls sunny Arizona home, Snowbowl is proudly flying the late-season flag for the Southwest. Last year’s epic winter had them spinning lifts into June! While that’s probably not in the cards this season, they’re still putting up a solid fight—nearly half the terrain is open, and they’ve extended the season into May with a bonus weekend of spring turns.
