Arizona

When will it snow in Flagstaff? How cold will it get this winter? Here’s what experts say

Published

2 years ago

September 20, 2024

When will it snow in Flagstaff? How cold will it get this winter? Here’s what experts say

Ready for snow yet? Like it or not, winter is fast approaching, and with it, plenty of snowfall and cold temperatures in Arizona’s coldest regions.

This fall, statewide temperatures are expected to be near- to above-normal, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

But in areas that normally receive snowfall, such as Flagstaff, Pinetop, Bisbee and Grand Canyon Village, this winter is expected to bring a sizable dose of snow and cold weather.

Here’s what the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts the weather will be like, including snow, rain and temperatures, to expect across the Grand Canyon State during the winter of 2024.

When is the first day of winter 2024?

This year, the first day of winter is Saturday, Dec. 21.

Cooler weather: Here’s when fall starts in Arizona and what the weather will be like

What will winter weather be like in Arizona?

The Old Farmer’s Almanac has predicted statewide temperatures will be colder than normal throughout the winter.

It predicts that the coldest periods will be in mid-November, mid- to late December and early February.

How much snow will northern Arizona see this winter?

While the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts drier-than-average winter conditions for the rest of the country, it predicts northern Arizona will have a snowy winter.

The area known as the “Intermountain” region, which includes Flagstaff, Pinetop and Grand Canyon Village, is predicted to receive average and above-average precipitation and snowfall.

When do leaves change color? Your guide to fall colors across Arizona

How cold will winter be in northern Arizona?

Though the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts above-average snowfall for northern Arizona, temperatures are not expected to be too frigid.

In fact, the Almanac predicts temperatures will be above normal.

This is when it will snow the most in northern Arizona

The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts the snowiest periods for northern Arizona will be in mid-November, early and late January and mid-March.

How does the Old Farmer’s Almanac make predictions?

The Old Farmer’s Almanac bases its predictions on a comparison of solar activity and weather patterns, according to its website.

The almanac explains that its forecasts draw on various academic fields, including solar science, climatology and meteorology.

It also notes that its current weather forecasting method is a modern adaptation of a formula developed by the almanac’s founder, Robert B. Thomas, in 1792.

How accurate are the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s predictions?

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, distinct from the Farmers’ Almanac, claims an 80% accuracy rate for its weather predictions.

However, in a report evaluating last winter’s forecasts, the almanac reported an overall accuracy rate of 64% for the season. The publication attributed the lower accuracy to “abnormal recent weather patterns.”

Have a question you need answered? Reach the reporter atzbradshaw@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @zachbradshaw14.

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Arizona

NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals fill biggest needs in 4-round mock

Published

4 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals fill biggest needs in 4-round mock

The 2026 NFL draft is still more than a month away, and we are beginning to get more multi-round mock drafts. We have a four-round mock draft from NFL.com’s Chad Reuter.

What does that mean for the Arizona Cardinals, who have one pick in each round? In this case, it means hitting their four biggest needs with their first four picks.

Let’s see.

Round 1, pick No. 3: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa

The Cardinals don’t overthink this pick. Mauigoa’s a strong, hard-nosed run blocker who fills a major need in Arizona and should be an NFL starter for a decade.

This pick appears to be destined for one of two routes — a tackle or a pass rusher. The question is whether they value Mauigoa over David Bailey, who goes with the very next pick of this mock draft, or another pass rusher.

The Cardinals have not done anything on the defensive edge this offseason. They have made some minor moves at right tackle.

Round 2, pick No. 34: Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker

If they don’t get a pass rusher in Round 1, it makes sense to go with one in Round 2. Parker looks the part at 6-4, 263 pounds with long 33 1/8-inch arms.

He had 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in 2024 but saw his production dip to five sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss last season.

Round 3, pick No. 65: LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

Yes, it makes sense for the Cardinals to draft a quarterback, one they can develop a bit. Nussmeier has the tools but was very inconsistent.

Round 4, pick No. 104: Alabama DT Tim Keenan

The Cardinals have thrown bodies on the defensive line this offseason, signing three and re-signing one. Getting one on Day 3 who is more of a space-eater than playmaker would continue with this trend.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals fill biggest needs in 4-round mock

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Arizona

20K fans back bid for pro women’s soccer team at Fiesta Mall site

Published

16 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

20K fans back bid for pro women’s soccer team at Fiesta Mall site

A fan initiative to bring a National Women’s Soccer League team to Mesa, Arizona, has gathered nearly 20,000 signatures.
Developer Vicki Mayo plans to build a 25,000-seat enclosed soccer stadium at the former Fiesta Mall site, now called the Palo District.
The Palo District project also includes a women’s sports wellness campus, an AI venture studio, and two large hotels.

Nearly 20,000 people signed a fan initiative to attract a National Women’s Soccer League team to Mesa’s former Fiesta Mall site, its developer said.

Now known as the Palo District, the 80-acre site along Alma School Road and Southern Avenue is poised for a major transformation that its owner, Vicki Mayo, hopes will be a hub for women’s sports.

Mayo is aiming to attract Arizona’s first National Women’s Soccer League by building a 25,000-seat enclosed soccer stadium that is planned to break ground in the summer.

Her company, Sunny Day Sports, an investment firm, launched an initiative in January called the Founding Fan to showcase that the development would be a “perfect” location for a professional women’s soccer team.

She said the initial goal was to get 10,000 founding fans in 10 days, but exceeded that by reaching over 15,000 signups in that time frame. Now that number is close to 20,000 fans, she said.

The aim is to show the NWSL that metro Phoenix has a fan base and interest to sustain a team.

The 2026 NWSL season launched in March, debuting two new teams and expanding from 14 to 16 teams.

In 2028, two new teams are expected to debut, including the already announced 17th franchise in Atlanta.

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman, in her 2026 Kickoff Address, stated the 18th team would be awarded later this year, USAToday reported on March 13.

The league would not “comment on specific markets or pending bids,” said Jennifer Levine, the vice president of public relations and communications for the NWSL.

She said the league was engaging in a “deliberate, rolling expansion process with a number of world-class potential ownership groups as we look toward the future of the league.”

Mayo said she was “not at liberty to disclose” if she’s had conversations with the league to pitch Arizona and the Palo District.

Are professional soccer leagues interested in Arizona?

The state doesn’t have any top-level professional soccer leagues, neither men’s nor women’s teams, but several amateur or minor leagues exist. That includes the Phoenix Rising soccer team in the United Soccer League, a tier below MLS.

The men’s Major League Soccer organization has flirted with the possibility of coming to Arizona for years and most recently hinted it could land in Mesa at a different site. It also appears that the political will to welcome a soccer team is there, as city officials stated in 2024 that it had entertained conversations.

A women’s professional soccer team could see an easier pathway to landing in Arizona and is the focus of the Palo District, according to Mayo.

Several amateur or minor-league women’s soccer clubs have formed over the years. Most recently, the Women’s Premier Soccer League announced a new team would be based at the Peoria Sports Complex. Those teams are created both to build a fan base and to cultivate local talent.

Mayo wants to build on the state’s popularity of youth soccer and keep rising talent in the state.

The Arizona Soccer Association reported that “more than 55,000 boys and girls” are participating in 45-plus clubs throughout the state in 2026.

She said she wants women coming out of those youth programs to have an opportunity to play in Arizona.

“I want these girls that are top tier that want to play pro to be able to stay in their home state and play for their home team,” she said.

Women like Julie Ertz from Mesa, who went on to play in Chicago and Los Angeles. Ertz made 123 appearances with the women’s national team and was in the NWSL between the 2014 and 2023 seasons.

Several other women soccer players with Arizona backgrounds have gone on to play in the NWSL and on the national team.

Mayo said she hopes the planned 25,000-seat “fully enclosed, fully domed” stadium with air conditioning and a retractable grass pitch will be sufficient to attract a professional soccer team.

Details surrounding the financing of the project remained slim. The Mesa City Council in November approved the creation of a theme park district, which will provide a dedicated financing system and a board that will be in charge of that system. It was not immediately known when the board would gather for its first meeting.

What’s planned for the former Fiesta Mall site?

The Palo District is developing with a focus on women’s sports and health.

It previously announced a women’s sports wellness campus in December as an anchor and “cornerstone” project that will be a $100 million capital investment in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.

An AI venture studio, WaveX, backed by LG Electronics, will also be featured at the site.

Two massive hotels with a combined 600 rooms are also planned at the site. The flagship hotel will tie directly into the stadium, which will bring a “VIP” experience, she said. It will be a 4 to 4.5-star property, she said.

“We’re in active conversations with a number of leading hotel chains to see which brand we’re going to solidify on and bring on,” Mayo said.

Like this story? Get more East Valley news straight into your email inbox by signing up for our free weekly East Valley Newsletter, which comes out on Wednesdays.

Is there something under construction you’d like to tell us about or find out more about? Reporter Maritza Dominguez, who covers Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek, can be reached at maritza.dominguez@arizonarepublic.com or 480-271-0646. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @maritzacdom.

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Arizona

100-degree heat hits busy Arizona wedding weekend in Maricopa

Published

1 day ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

100-degree heat hits busy Arizona wedding weekend in Maricopa

MARICOPA, Ariz. – It’s one of the busiest times of year for weddings in Arizona, usually because the weather couldn’t be better. But this weekend, the heat is changing plans for some couples getting ready to say “I do.”

Marriage is all about adjusting and adapting — something Elle Vanderham and Reece Pocock have had to do. They thought they were going to be married in perfect March weather; instead, they’ll be tying the knot in the 100-degree desert sun.

What they’re saying:

“Everyone comes in March, so we were like perfect, we’ll do it then,” said bride Elle Vanderham. “And then they all got here and everyone is dying.”

Love is heating up in Arizona, and so are the temperatures.

“What’s that saying… when you make plans, God laughs? Yeah, so here we are,” said Dana Schwartz, the bride’s aunt.

Vanderham and Pocock are set to tie the knot this Saturday in Maricopa. The two met when Pocock would come down from Canada for work. They were hoping for mild spring weather, but now they’re preparing for triple-digit heat.

“I’m very ready,” Vanderham said. “I’m just happy I don’t have to wear a felt cap and a suit jacket.”

Schwartz has been helping set up the event. She says changes had to be made to help keep the over 200 guests from all over the world comfortable.

“We brought in coolers and misters. We’re going to have umbrellas for out there,” Schwartz said. “We had to bring in a refrigerated truck because hydration is going to be a big thing. In fact, we had to buy more. You have to adjust the order of things. It’s all you can do.”

Like many Arizonans, they’re taking the heat in stride and rolling with whatever comes — a little preview of married life. Ultimately, they’re just happy to celebrate together.

“I’m very grateful for everyone I have in my corner,” Vanderham said. “And I’m very grateful for all the Canadians who came down even though they knew it was going to be hot.”

What you can do:

If you are attending an outdoor wedding this weekend or any event outdoors, doctors recommend hydrating as much as possible and seeking shade.

The Source: Interviews with Dana Schwartz, Elle Vanderham and Reece Pocock

WeatherNewsMaricopa CountyLifestyle

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