Snow in the desert foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains early Thursday. Clouds are clearing from Pima Canyon to the left.

 Rick Wiley photos, Arizona Daily Star

Portland, Oregon received nearly a foot of snow in a single day in what proved to be its second-snowiest day in history. Mountainous areas of California experienced nearly unprecedented snowfall accumulations — more than 40 feet since the start of the season. Even Tucson and Phoenix suburbs woke up on Thursday to a dusting of snow that covered cactuses and lush golf courses.

In Tucson, the international airport received one inch of snowfall, making it the seventh highest March snow, the National Weather Service said. March 12, 1922 holds the record for the month’s highest snow, with a total of six inches.

Areas on the east side and north west side of Tucson received around two to three inches of snow, the NWS said. Vail received seven inches of snow from Wednesday’s night storm, Oracle received 6 inches of snow and places like Saddlebrooke and Benson received 4.5 inches.

On Mount Lemmon, Summerhaven received 12 inches of snow during the storm. In a Facebook post, Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley said they should be open Friday.

The mountains usually seen in the distance between the houses are mere shadows. Video taken the morning of March 2, 2023.

This is the second time it has snowed in Tucson this year, the first being in February. It is also the 10th time measurable snow has happened in March in Tucson history.

So far this season, Tucson has received 1.5 inches of snow. That’s more than Washington D.C. and Philadelphia have received, the NWS said.

Schools in the area mostly were unaffected by Thursday’s weather, though a snow day was called in Sierra Vista.

After two near-freezing mornings, Tucson’s weekend is expected to be mostly sunny with high temperatures Saturday and Sunday hovering around 70 degrees.

Looking like a scene from a 1940s movie, this snow covered sedan on South River road in Santa Cruz County after an overnight snow storm that deposited some 2 to 6 inches over much of the county.

That’s good timing for the 14th annual Tucson Festival of Books.

The massive literary event draws some 300 presenters and about 125,000 people to the Old Pueblo.

The festival schedule can be found at tucne.ws/tfobsked.

What is going on with all the snow?

“This rain and snow bucked the trend and it’s highly unexpected,” said Ryan Maue, a meteorologist and former NOAA chief scientist. “It’s like once-in-a-generation.”

Meteorologists say the explanation for the robust winter season is not so simple.

The current La Niña pattern does have an influence on global weather, but Maue said that is only one factor.

Bianca Feldkircher, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said a persistent blocking pattern over the Pacific Ocean plus cold air migrating south from the Arctic have created the conditions for widespread snowfall along the West Coast.

“Not only were you getting significant snowfall in areas that already see snow, you were also seeing snowfall on lower elevations in Southern California, which is super rare,” said Feldkircher.

Tucson Mountains blanketed in snow as seen from the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains on Thursday.

For example, the forecast on March 1 warned of snowfall for parts of Phoenix, which Feldkircher said is “super unusual” for this time of year. And last week, Portland saw abnormally high snowfall rates and recorded nearly 11 inches — the second snowiest day in the city’s history.

With respect to human-induced climate change, meteorologists say it’s challenging to nail down what part it is playing in the West Coast’s peculiar winter season.

But increasingly extreme weather is expected as global temperatures rise. “Heat produces moisture, moisture produces storms, and heat and moisture bind to produce even more severe storms,” Feldkircher said.

Forecasting technology keeps getting better. So much better, it may even soon be able to forecast extreme events with higher accuracy. “In the near future, I do not think climate will cause issues with our weather forecasting capabilities,” Maue said.

Although many regions struggled with the challenging winter conditions, some are welcoming the much-needed moisture.

The recent precipitation is a blessing for ameliorating the drought that has persisted in the Southwest.

California tends to go from rags to riches, bounty to poverty when it comes to rain, Maue said. “That’s why from a policy point of view, you need to be able to have water regulations, reservoirs, and water supplies that can last during multi-year droughts.”

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Star reporter Jamie Donnelly contributed to this article. Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content.