Thanksgiving storm provides winter wonderland on Mount Graham

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: The recent storms covered Mount Graham with enough snow to go sledding.

Late November storms add more than two inches to yearly rain total

Jon Johnson Video/Gila Herald

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

MOUNT GRAHAM – While the wind may have been brutal, the much-needed rain fell along with it this Thanksgiving, including an inch recorded at the University of Arizona Meteorological Network in Solomon on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Snow flurries descend on the Twilight area of Mount Graham.

Storms in November increased the total rainfall for the year by more than two inches to stand at 6.69 inches with another possible storm around the end of this week. 

Last year, the station measured a total of 8.75 inches but only one inch fell between November through the end of the year. 

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Families flocked to the mountain to play in the snow.

So far, the Gila Valley has already surpassed 2017’s total of 5.85 inches but there will have to be an epic December to come close to matching the 13.18 inches measured in 2016. 

While the valley areas received the rain, the mountain regions were covered with snow, which made for a winter wonderland on Mount Graham. 

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald

Families headed up the mountain over the holiday weekend to play in the snow and make use of sledding equipment and snow clothes. 

To view a photo album of pictures from the Twilight area of Mount Graham on Saturday, click here.