If you’re staring at the clear blue sky over the San Francisco Peaks right now and wondering when will it snow in flagstaff az, you aren’t alone. Honestly, it’s been a weirdly dry stretch. We just hit mid-January 2026, and while the mornings are crisp enough to freeze the dew on your windshield, the big, fluffy "winter wonderland" storms have been playing hard to get lately.
But don't pack away the parkas just yet.
Basically, the current weather pattern in Northern Arizona is being bossed around by a massive high-pressure ridge sitting off the West Coast. That’s why we’re seeing sunny 50-degree days while the rest of the country is shivering. But for anyone tracking the flakes, there is finally some movement in the models.
The Immediate Forecast: When the Flakes Finally Fly
Look, I’ll give it to you straight. For the next few days, it’s going to be dry. Saturday and Sunday (January 17–18) are looking sunny with highs in the mid-40s to low-50s. Great for a hike, bad for a snowball fight.
However, things start getting interesting toward the end of next week.
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According to the latest National Weather Service discussions and ensemble models, that West Coast ridge is finally starting to crack. We’re keeping a close eye on Wednesday night, January 21, and Thursday, January 22. There’s a noticeable shift in the moisture levels coming in from the southwest.
- Wednesday Night: You might see some light dusting or a rain-snow mix as the system moves in.
- Thursday, Jan 22: This is the first real "snow possible" window we've had in a while. Highs will drop to around 48°F, but the overnight lows are staying right at 30°F.
- The Weekend Surge (Jan 23–24): This is the main event. There’s a 40% chance of snow showers hitting Friday night and carrying into Saturday. Saturday, January 24, is currently looking like the best bet for measurable accumulation in town, with highs struggling to reach 45°F and a significant jump in humidity.
Flagstaff’s Snow Reputation vs. Reality
People always forget that Flagstaff is at 7,000 feet. They think "Arizona" and imagine cacti and 100-degree heat. Then they get here in January and realize it’s an alpine tundra. On average, this town gets about 100 inches of snow a year.
But it’s a feast-or-famine kind of place.
Take 2019, for example. We had a single day in February—the 21st—where 35.9 inches fell at the airport. That’s basically three feet of snow in 24 hours. It was chaos, but the kind of beautiful chaos that makes Flagstaff what it is. In contrast, the start of this 2025-2026 season has been a "slow bloomer." We had some decent early action in September and November, but December was leaner than most locals liked.
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Where to Find the Deep Stuff Right Now
If the town itself is looking a bit dry, you have to go up.
Arizona Snowbowl is sitting on a 34-inch base depth as of mid-January. Because they have top-tier snowmaking and the benefit of being way higher up the mountain (over 9,000 feet), they’ve managed to keep about 80% of their trails open.
If you're asking when will it snow in flagstaff az because you're planning a ski trip, you should know that the mountain often catches "orographic lift" snow that the city misses. Even if the forecast says "partly cloudy" in the Southside or downtown, the peaks could be getting a light dusting.
Driving Tips for the Next Big Storm
When that January 23–24 system hits, don’t be that person stuck on the I-17.
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The climb from Phoenix to Flagstaff is no joke. You're gaining about 6,000 feet in an hour. When it snows, that highway turns into a parking lot. Seriously. If there’s even an inch of slush, I-17 near Munds Park usually sees accidents that can back up traffic for five or six hours.
Check the ADOT (Arizona Department of Transportation) sensors at az511.gov before you leave. If the "Snow Forecast" says it’s coming, and you don’t have 4WD or at least a good set of snow tires, stay in the valley or wait for the plows. Flagstaff is great at clearing roads, but they can't help you if you're stuck behind a semi-truck that’s slid across three lanes.
Actionable Next Steps
- Watch the Jan 23 Window: If you’re a powder hound, mark Friday night and Saturday (Jan 24) on your calendar. This is the highest probability for new snow we’ve seen in weeks.
- Check the Webcams: Use the San Francisco Peaks or Snowbowl webcams to see real-time conditions. Sometimes the "airport" data doesn't tell the whole story of what’s happening on the North end of town.
- Gear Up: If you’re heading up for the late January window, the temperatures are hovering right around freezing. It's that "wet" snow that turns to ice quickly. Bring a real ice scraper and some heavy wool socks.
- Book Your Stay: If the storm on the 24th holds its strength, hotels will fill up fast. The "snow seekers" from Phoenix usually move in as soon as the first snowflake is confirmed on the local news.
Winter in Flagstaff is unpredictable, but that’s part of the draw. We might be in a dry spell now, but history shows that this town can go from "sunscreen weather" to "buried in a drift" in about twelve hours. Keep your eyes on the southwest horizon.