SNOW-way! Does it Really Snow in Marana, Arizona?
There's just something magical about snow in the desert!
Unrelenting heat, towering saguaros, sunny skies: these are all things you think of when you hear the word "desert." And most of the time, that is what you will find when you come to Marana, Arizona. But every once in a while, something rare and magical happens. Snow. Yes, you read that right, SNOW in the desert! While it may not be the winter wonderland you see in movies, it is something special that few people get to experience.
Snow in Marana is tricky to keep track of
In Southern Arizona, with its varying elevations, accurate snow records are tricky to keep. All official weather readings for the area are recorded at Tucson International Airport, which has an elevation of 2,634 feet. Dove Mountain in Marana has an elevation between 2,700 feet and 4,300 feet, while Marana itself sits at 1,900 feet.
While these elevation changes may not seem like a lot while driving in your car, when it comes to snow totals, it can be the difference between a rainy or snowy morning!
Over the years, several weather systems have brought snow to the valley floors. Most recently, on March 1 and 2, 2023, Tucson International Airport recorded 1 inch of snowfall. Earlier that year, on February 15, the airport recorded half an inch of snow.
Snow on Saguaros
In February 2019, a storm brought 1.9 inches of snow to the valley, with much higher mountain totals. “Having grown up in Minnesota, snow is something I’m used to. But seeing snow covering the saguaros of Saguaro National Park and the surrounding mountains was like nothing I had ever experienced!” Marana resident David Schoonhoven said of the February 2019 snowfall. “The city is electric. Everyone is excited! It’s a much different experience than where I grew up.”
During storms like this one, locals head to Saguaro National Park West to try to capture the perfect shot of snow on saguaros and magical desert snow scenes.
Snow Stops Golf at Match Play 2013
While snow doesn't happen often in the desert, it has left its mark on different events that come to Arizona during the winter to take advantage of its beautiful weather.
The normal weather in the middle of February boasts highs in the upper 60s and lows in the mid-40s with an average of 0.84" of rain and 0.1" of snow throughout the month.
In February 2013, the Accenture Match Play Championship golf game came to The Golf Club at Dove Mountain. On Wednesday, February 20th, two to four inches of fresh snow fell across the Dove Mountain area, covering the greens of The Golf Club in a blanket of white.
Play was suspended just after 11 a.m. and did not resume until the following day. It was a sight to see and it made national news!
This was not the first time snow had fallen during a golf event in the Tucson-area. Just two years earlier a light dusting had fallen, but did not delay play.
Winter in the Sonoran Desert
Snow in southern Arizona is a special occurrence that leaves its memory on everyone and everything around. The valley snow makes for beautiful photos, while our mountain snow feeds the plant and wildlife of southern Arizona long after it melts. While many days in the wintertime are mild here, you may still need a coat.
Did you know?
The Santa Catalina mountains that flank the east side of Tucson are home to the southernmost ski resort in the continental United States. Ski Valley at the top of Mount Lemmon allows desert-dwellers and visitors alike to enjoy a ski vacation with only an hour and a half drive!
The skiing operation has 200 skiable acres with 21 runs. In the off-season, the ski resort uses its lift system to showcase the beautiful Catalina mountains to visitors all around. It's also a great place to cool off in the summer when it's typically 10 to 20 degrees fahrenheit cooler!
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We are lucky to have one of the nation’s most treasured parks, Saguaro National Park, right in our backyard. Saguaro National Park consists of two distinctly different parks, located within two different mountain ranges that are on opposite sides of Tucson, Arizona. Marana is closest to Saguaro National Park West and the eastern side of the park is located just one hour away by car.
Taking its name from one of the longest living trees in the Arizona desert, the Ironwood Forest National Monument is a true Sonoran Desert showcase. Keeping company with the ironwood trees are mesquite, paloverde, creosote, and saguaro. The Silver Bell, Waterman and Sawtooth are rugged mountain ranges, from 1,800 to more than 4,200 feet in elevation. Desert valleys filled with diverse wildlife, such as pronghorn and mule deer, complete the setting.