The Tucson area will begin drying out this weekend after a major winter storm dumped nearly 2 inches of snow in the metro area Friday. One death was attributed to icy conditions on area roadways.
The storm dropped 2.5 feet of snow on Mount Lemmon and also left the desert landscape in the valley under a blanket of white. Several stretches of Interstate 10 east of Tucson were closed periodically Friday because of numerous vehicle crashes related to the snowy weather.
The National Weather Service said 1.9 inches of snow was recorded at Tucson International Airport by 2 p.m., which is the most snow recorded here since 2 inches fell on Feb. 20, 2013.
“This particular storm was impressive and it did drop a significant amount of snowfall in the mountains as well as down into the valley,” said Chris Rasmussen, a weather service meteorologist in Tucson. “The heavier snowfall amounts down in the valley are a little bit more rare, but not completely out of the realm of possibility.”
The city’s record snowfall was 6.8 inches on Dec. 8, 1971.
As the current storm system moved east, officials were predicting much colder temperatures for Tucson. A hard freeze warning was in effect for the metro area through Saturday morning. The weather service was warning the wet roads could ice over and tree limbs could be weighed down by heavy ice coatings by Saturday morning.
The city of Tucson said crews were planning to be out early Saturday spreading magnesium chloride on bridge decks to help prevent ice from forming on the road. City trucks were also being prepared to spread salt or sand at major intersections and roads if needed, the city said in a news release Friday evening.
Tucson closed all parks and recreation areas Friday because of the snow, and most will remain closed Saturday.
A fatal crash south of Tucson occurred during the storm. The Department of Public Safety said a driver lost control of his vehicle in icy conditions on Interstate 19 near El Toro Road and collided with a tractor-trailer rig Friday morning.
The driver, in his mid-30s, was the only occupant of the vehicle. He was thrown from the car and was later pronounced dead at Banner-University Medical Center, the DPS reported.
Saturday will be mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Sunday will see another cold morning, with highs creeping into the lower 60s, according to the weather service.
It could snow in Tucson tomorrow?! Here's a look back at Tucson's 2019 snowfall
Snow in the Old Pueblo
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Snow falls onto the desert landscape at Gates Pass on February 22, 2019 in Tucson, Ariz.
Mt. Lemmon Snow
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After a heavy snowfall skiers and snowboarders took advantage and made their way to Ski Valley on Mt. Lemmon on February 26, 2019 near Tucson, Ariz.
Mt. Lemmon Snow
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Gustavo Cordova puts the finishing touches on his snowman in Summerhaven on Mt. Lemmon on February 26, 2019 near Tucson, Ariz.
Mt. Lemmon Snow
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A snowboarder glides down a slope at Ski Valley on Mt. Lemmon on February 26, 2019 near Tucson, Ariz.
Mt. Lemmon Snow
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Simona Cordova takes a photo of her husband, Gustavo, as he poses with the snowman he built in Summerhaven on Mt. Lemmon on February 26, 2019 near Tucson, Ariz.
Mt. Lemmon Snow
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Drivers make their way up Catalina Highway with snow on either side of them on Mt. Lemmon on February 26, 2019 near Tucson, Ariz.
Snow around Tucson
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The downtown Tucson skyline is backdropped by the snow-capped Santa Catalina Mountains as morning light reveals snowfall after a winter storm brought more than three feet to the summit, Feb. 23, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow around Tucson
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Morning light reveals snowfall on the Santa Catalina Mountains after a winter storm brought more than three feet to the summit, Feb. 23, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow around Tucson
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Frank Vasquez, 86, chooses to walk the road up Sentinel Peak to photograph morning light revealing snowfall on the Santa Catalina Mountains after a winter storm brought more than three feet to the summit, Feb. 23, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow around Tucson
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The downtown Tucson skyline is backdropped by the snow-capped Santa Catalina Mountains as morning light reveals snowfall after a winter storm brought more than three feet to the summit, Feb. 23, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Hole No. 9 at Randolph Golf Course looks to be playing a bit long today as the metro Tucson area receives snowfall following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in the Old Pueblo
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Snow falls onto the desert landscape at Gates Pass on February 22, 2019 in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in Santa Cruz County
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Tony Segebartt and his dog Max made their way through the snow in Patagonia Friday morning. The snow brought down bunches of tree limbs and the town was without power for much of the morning and it was finally restored shortly before 3:00 pm. (Photo by Terry Ketron)
Snow in Santa Cruz County
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CenturyLink repair technician, Ozzie Ruiz, braved the whiteout snow conditions Friday as he worked on a customer's DSL line issue in Rio Rico. Snow accumulations in Riio Rico reached between one and five inches deppending on the elevation. (Photo by Terry Ketron)
Snow in Santa Cruz County
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Whiteout snow conditions closed the Nogales International Airport to all traffic Friday due to a snowstorm that left its mark on Santa Cruz County. (Photo by Terry Ketron)
Snow Across Tucson
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Julia DeConcini, left, and Brittany Smith get some photos of the snowman they found on top of a nearby cactus at Saguaro National Park East, Friday, February 22, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in Tucson
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Ambria Dell'Oro, a New Jersey native, uses a broom to wipe the collected snow from her Volkswagen in midtown as the metro Tucson area receives snowfall following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in Tucson
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A hearty jogger pays the snow no mind as he gets an run in around the Randolph Golf complex, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow Across Tucson
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Afternoon snows falling over the Saguaro National Park East, Friday, February 22, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow Across Tucson
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Snow on the tails of planes in the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force base just off of Irvington Rd., Friday, February 22, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow Across Tucson
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Jesse Jackson sets up his phone on a tripod to get video of the snow falling over the Saguaro National Park East, Friday, February 22, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow Across Tucson
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Morning snow falls over the Saguaro National Park East, Friday, February 22, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in Tucson
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Kelsi Prusa, a student from Lancaster, California battles the cold as snow falls on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, AZ. on February 22, 2019.
Snow in Tucson
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Fog rises from the 79 degree swimming pool at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center following a cold morning of snow on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, AZ. on February 22, 2019
Snow in Tucson
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Tents fill the mall on the University of Arizona campus in preparation for the upcoming Festival of Books in Tucson, AZ. on February 22, 2019.
Snow in Tucson
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Jo Jo Lin, right, works on a snowman as friends from left, Jing Chen, Eric Wei, and Sammi Lin record the event as snow falls on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, AZ. on February 22, 2019. The students, from Taiwan, say they have little experience with snow and were happy to play in the snow.
Snow in Tucson
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A morning of snow transforms the ordinary to picturesque in Tucson, AZ. on February 22, 2019
Snow in Tucson
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Sacorra Tate is thrilled after Ralph Garcia lifts the head onto the snowman they scraped together from a fresh snow fall on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, AZ. on February 22, 2019
Snow in Tucson
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Students walk through a gentle falling snow between classes as on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, AZ. on February 22, 2019.
Snow in Tucson
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A small snowman left on a boulder beside the Broadway Trailhead entrance at the Saguaro National Park East, Friday, February 22, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Frank Ramos, uses his phone to capture the marvel of Tucson snowfall at Reid Park as snow falls in the metro Tucson area following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Terri Oliva tries to catch snowflakes on her tongue with son Nate, 12, at Reid Park as snow falls in the metro Tucson area following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Alex Oliva, 14, takes a bite of the original snowcone at Reid Park as snow falls in the metro Tucson area following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Justin Aguilar, right, ditched engineering class to go play in the snow, when passerby Lujac Neeper, left, on a break from landscaping work, jumped in to help him roll this snowball at Reid Park as snow falls in the metro Tucson area following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Justin Aguilar, left, ditched engineering class to go play in the snow, when passerby Lujac Neeper, right, on a break from landscaping work, jumped in to help him roll this snowball at Reid Park as snow falls in the metro Tucson area following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Reid Park looks like a winter wonderland as snow falls in the metro Tucson area following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow Across Tucson
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A man takes a photo of the desert landscape near Sentinel Peak covered in snow on February 22, 2019 in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Nate Oliva, 12, fires a snowball at a family member at Reid Park as snow falls in the metro Tucson area following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Reid Park looks like a winter wonderland as snow falls in the metro Tucson area following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Reid Park looks like a winter wonderland as snow falls in the metro Tucson area following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Vehicle tracks mar the snow on a dirt access road as snow fall over the northeastern foothills, Friday, February 22, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Tucsonans woke up to snow falling on February 22, 2019 in Tucson, Ariz. Snow accumulated in the desert landscape along Sentinel Peak.
Snow across Tucson
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Snowfall in the metro Tucson area collects on palm tree fronds following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Cars make their way down La Canada Dr. towards River Rd. as snow falls on Tucson, AZ. on February 22, 2019
Snow across Tucson
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Snowfall collects on a saguaro cactus in the metro Tucson area following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Snowfall collects on an ocotillo spine in the metro Tucson area following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Snowfall in the metro Tucson area following a late February storm system, Feb. 22, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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Tucsonans woke up to snow falling on February 22, 2019 in Tucson, Ariz. Snow accumulated in the desert landscape along Sentinel Peak.
Snow across Tucson
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Snow falls on the Loop Trail near La Canada Dr. bridge over the Rillito River in Tucson, AZ. on February 22, 2019
Snow across Tucson
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Snow falls on the Loop Trail off of River Rd west of La Canada Dr. over the Rillito River in Tucson, AZ. on February 22, 2019.
Snow across Tucson
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A maintenance crew continues their rounds as snow falls on the Loop Trail off of River Rd west of La Canada Dr. over the Rillito River in Tucson, AZ. on February 22, 2019.
Snow across Tucson
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A woman takes a photo with her cell phone as snow falls on February 22, 2019 in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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A man stands near the corner of Stone Ave. and Pennington St. in downtown Tucson as snow falls on February 22, 2019.
Snow across Tucson
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A woman stands near the corner of Stone Ave. and Pennington St. in downtown Tucson as snow falls on February 22, 2019.
Snow across Tucson
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Tucsonans woke up to snow falling on February 22, 2019 in Tucson, Ariz. Snow accumulated in the desert landscape along Sentinel Peak.
Snow across Tucson
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Tucsonans woke up to snow falling on February 22, 2019 in Tucson, Ariz. Snow accumulated in the desert landscape along Sentinel Peak.
Snow across Tucson
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The Agua Caliente Wash runs under a rare desert snowfall, Friday, February 22, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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An island of brush and snow in the side stream of the flowing Agua Caliente Wash, Friday, February 22, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow across Tucson
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A sparrow looks over the snow falling over the Agua Caliente Wash, Friday, February 22, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in the Old Pueblo
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Snow falls onto the desert landscape at Gates Pass on February 22, 2019 in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in the Old Pueblo
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Snow falls onto the desert landscape at Gates Pass on February 22, 2019 in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in the Old Pueblo
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Snow falls onto the desert landscape at Gates Pass on February 22, 2019 in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in the Old Pueblo
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Tucsonans woke up to snow falling on February 22, 2019 in Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in Tucson
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April Gardner makes snow angels at Agua Caliente Park on Friday Feb. 22nd, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in Tucson
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Raven Cesolini (left) and Mya Gomez (right) play in the snow at Agua Caliente Park. This is the first time Gomez has seen snowfall according to her mother, Laura Gomez on Friday Feb. 22nd 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in Tucson
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The snowy weather floods some residential streets on Tucson's east side. This driver pushes through a flooded dip on E. Speedway near Douglas Spring Trailhead on Friday Feb. 22nd, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Snow in Santa Cruz County
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CenturyLink repair technician, Ozzie Ruiz, braved the whiteout snow conditions Friday as he worked on a customer's DSL line issue in Rio Rico. Snow accumulations in Riio Rico reached between one and five inches deppending on the elevation. (Photo by Terry Ketron)
Snow in Santa Cruz County
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An adventurous Jeep owner didn't mind a few slick roads and headed out on Paseo Mexico in Rio Rico for sightseeing, or work, or where ever. Some one to five inches of snow accumulated on different parts of Santa Cruz County. (Photo by Terry Ketron)
Snow in Santa Cruz County
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Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District in Rio Rico, AZ had school Friday but , according to Transportation Director, Rico Quiroz, some of the higher elevation routes had to be modified and parents had to drive down to lower elevations where snow was minima to pick up their childrenl. (Photo by Terry Ketron)
Snow in Santa Cruz County
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Arizona D.O.T. drivers Daniel Gonzalez, at the wheel, and Ricardo Padilla started out of the shop about 3:00 am Friday morning and were busy the whole time trying to keep up with the wet snow that continued to fall most of the day in Santa Cruz County. Here they are in Patagonia working on the highway through town near noon. (Photo by Terry Ketron)
Snow in Santa Cruz County
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David Hendricks cleaned a six inch coating of snow off of his Subaru Friday so he could go sightseeing in the newborn snow country of Patagonia. Hendicks is from Colorado so dealing with snow is old hat to him. (Photo by Terry Ketron)
Snow in Santa Cruz County
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Sisters, Jackie Jacobson, left, and Michelle Frazier, thought they had left snow behind in Maine when they moved to southern Arizona but they changed their minds Friday as they cleared thir driveway in Patagonia. Some six to seven inches of wet snow covered the town and much of Santa Cruz County that morning. Many tree branches were broken by the weight of the heavy snow and power was lost for several hours until just before 3:00 pm. (Photo by Terry Ketron)
Snow in Santa Cruz County
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Wet, heavy snow blanketed much of Santa Cruz County Friday morning but the beauty it brought came with a price in Patagonia. Hundreds of branches yielded to the weighht of the snow and fell across utility lines and landed on vehicles below.. Most of the town of Patagonia was without power for much of the morning and it was finally restored shortly before 3:00 pm. (Photo by Terry Ketron)
Snow in Santa Cruz County
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This Ford pickup truck that belongs to Robin Baxter, of Patagonia, fell victim to the cracking and crashing snow laden limb of his neighbor's tree. He's had the truck for over 30 years and it's like family to him but he says the damage looks minimal. (Photo by Terry Ketron)
Snow in Santa Cruz County
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Looking like a page from a January calendar, the snow in Rio Rico and the lights on the hillside in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico paint a soothing but chilly picture of the nightfall. (Photo by Terry Ketron)
