Tucsonans hoping for a chance to enjoy a wintry day in the Catalina Mountains today will need to put their plans on hold.
Catalina Highway, the road to Mount Lemmon, was closed at the base late Thursday morning. A storm system moving through Tucson is expected to bring colder temperatures, rain and snow through the weekend.
40+ photos of snow in Tucson over the years
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
University of Arizona students spilled out of their fraternities and dormitories for an impromptu snowball fight during the first snowfall in five years, in February 1956. From the book "Jack Sheaffer's Tucson 1945-1965."
Jack Sheaffer
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
Snow-laden trees in Marshall Gulch make for a nice winter scene on Jan. 3, 1963.
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
A weekend of winter storm activity left a two-foot blanket of snow on Mt. Lemmon in February 1965. Thousands of Tucsonans made their way up the slopes after roads were cleared.
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
A snowplow in action at Summerhaven and a group pushing a wheel-spinning car on January 3, 1963.
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
Mt. Lemmon's winter snowfall normally is 100 inches and at the time of this January 1955 picture, two falls had accumulated 36 inches on the level. Before the week was out another foot or so had fallen.
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
His head turned over his shoulder, instructor Ben Van Inwegen shows a class how to perform a movement know to skiers as a "glunder spring" in March 1965. Nine instructors are available for lessons.
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Tucson Citizen file photo
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Tucson Citizen file photo
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
A car almost completely covered with snow photographed in front of the Mt. Lemmon Inn at the Bavarian Village on Jan. 3, 1963.
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
Undated Tucson Citizen file photo.
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
Large innertubes known as "whirlybirds" make ideal toboggans for youngsters using the Snow Bowl's play area on March 21, 1965.
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Undated Tucson Citizen file photo.
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Ellen Wiesnet, 3 demonstrates her skiing ability for her father, Donald Weisnet on Mt. Lemmon on March 21, 1965.
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Snow flurries on Nov. 30, 1962 in the Catalina Mountains tried to give the Summerhaven resort area atop Mt. Lemmon a preview of a white Christmas. But warmer temperatures melted the six-inch snowfall to a soggy two inches by morning.
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Old Man Winter laid a 14-inch white blanket over the upper levels of Mt. Lemmon on Dec. 12, 1965. Despite the snowfall, and several rockslides, the highway was kept open.
Tucson Citizen
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Mar. 22, 1965: Somebody once described a ski run as the distance between the top of a mountain and the bottom of a hot chocolate. This picture shows one of the ski slopes and the lift apparatus at the Mount Lemmon Snow Bowl.
Dan Tortorell
TUCSON CITIZEN
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
On skis made especially for her, three-year-old Lee Lawrence practices a snow plow stop Feb. 7, 1955 under the expert tutelage of her father, Renn Lawrence, instructor in military science and tactics at the University of Arizona. Lee was born in Austria while her father was on duty here. But starting her in "almost as soon as she could walk."
TUCSON CITIZEN
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
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Snow capped Santa Catalina Mountains give the appearance of downtown Tucson a similar look to Salt Lake City. Photo by David Sanders. Jan. 7, 1997.
David Sanders
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
85 year old Fairy Belle Buckner sweeps inches of snow off her car in Oracle, Arizona, where she's visiting her grandson. Photo taken Jan. 7, 1997, by Linda Seeger Salazar/Arizona Daily Star.
Linda Seeger Salazar
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
Shea Freeland of Tucson flies through the air in a spray of snow as her homemade sled flips her Jan. 3, 2000. Photo by Aaron J. Latham/Arizona Daily Star.
Aaron J. Latham
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
Scott Miller, 18, catches some air coming off a hill on Mt. Lemmon. Photo by Sarah Prall/Arizona Daily Star. Dec. 6, 1998.
Sarah Prall
What snow means to Tucson
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People help push a car that was stuck in the snow on Mt. Lemmon, near Bear Canyon. Oct. 26, 1996. Photo by James S. Wood/Arizona Daily Star
James S. Wood
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
Matt Smith, right, and Rick Vega, left, build a snow dog at the Molino Canyon overlook on the Catalina Highway in 1996. Jeffry Scott/Arizona Daily Star
Jeffry Scott
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Krista Hayes throws a snowball at Noah Curtis, both of Tucson, as they enjoy some horseplay at Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley in eight inches of new snow Jan. 3, 2000. Photo by Aaron J. Latham/Arizona Daily Star
Aaron J. Latham
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Lea Patterson gets chains ready to put on her car Jan. 6, 1996, after more than a foot of snow fell in Summerhaven. Jeffry Scott/Arizona Daily Star
Jeffry Scott
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
A snowy winter scene is outlined by a storm drain that runs below the Mt Lemmon Highway at Bear Wallow. Photo by A.E. Araiza/Arizona Daily Star 1996
A. E. Araiza
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
Two feet of snow covered the ground near Molino Basin Feb. 28, 1997. Sergey Shayevich/Arizona Daily Star
Sergey Shayevich
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Chris Redman, 18, and a friend take a break from sledding to make some snow angels on Mount Lemmon. Jan. 9, 1997. Photo by Sarah Prall/Arizona Daily Star
Sarah Prall
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Destrie Coronado sticks his tongue out with a vengence trying to catch the falling flakes April 4, 1999. Sarah Prall/Arizona Daily Star
Sarah Prall
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Schreen Raboza, 12, slides down a hill off the Catalina Highway on Mt. Lemmon. March 6, 2000. Photo by Joshua Trujillo/Arizona Daily Star
Joshua Trujillo
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
Wyatt Eaker, 9, hugs a snow saucer as he hurls himself down a snow-covered hill during a sledding expedition on Mount Lemmon. Jan. 9, 1997. Sarah Prall/Arizona Daily Star
Sarah Prall
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Jan. 2, 2000. Photo by Benjie Sanders/Arizona Daily Star
Benjie Sanders
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
A Christmas Day snowfall in Tucson Dec. 25, 1987. Photo by Mari Schaefer/Arizona Daily Star
Mari A. Schaefer
What snow means to Tucson
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First time skier Vanessa Murzi explores the horizontal aspects of skiing as she takes advantage of the recent snow on Mount Lemmon April 5, 1999. Sarah Prall/Arizona Daily Star
Sarah Prall
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
A lone snowboader glides downward toward the ski lift at Mt. Lemmon Jan. 9, 1997. Sarah Prall/Arizona Daily Star
Sarah Prall
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Saguaro National Monument West with snow-capped saguaros at Gates Pass. April 4, 1999. Benjie Sanders/Arizona Daily Star
BENJIE SANDERS
What snow means to Tucson
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Armando and Dominique Dominguez, 11 and 9, enjoy the winter storm's snowfall in Oracle by building a snowman in the front yard. Jan. 12, 2001. Sarah Prall/Arizona Daily Star
Sarah Prall
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
Marvin Wenham who lives atop Mt. Lemmon sweeps snow off of the Mt. Lemmon ski lift deck Nov. 30, 1996. Photo by James S. Wood/Arizona Daily Star
James S. Wood
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
Ski Valley on the Mount Lemmon Oct. 27, 1996. Sergey Shayevich/Arizona Daily Star
Sergey Shayevich
What snow means to Tucson
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Dec 30, 2021
A sports utility vehicle slowly moves along a snow-covered road towards Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains March 7, 2000. Photo by A.E. Araiza/Arizona Daily Star
A. E. Araiza
What snow means to Tucson
Updated
Dec 30, 2021
Snow at University of Arizona - 1949
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Pima County's transportation department cited hazardous snow and ice as the reason for the closure.
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The road, however, is still open to residents and employees.
Call the transportation department's community relations office at (520) 724-6410 for information during regular business hours.
Outside of regular business hours and on weekends, the Pima County Sheriff's Road Condition Hotline can be called at (520) 351-3351.
Also, https://www.transview.org/Map has road updates.