Flagstaff, Arizona (AZ Family) — It’s the time of year when winter weather and cool temperatures make people want to vacation in the highlands.

This week has been sunny with temperatures in the low 50s, which is unusually warm for Flagstaff. That means no snow.

Last month, it snowed early in Flagstaff, prompting the Arizona Snowbowl to open earlier.

But right now, Flagstaff is almost 8 inches below the average so far this year.

Winters in Flagstaff average 80 to 90 inches of snow.

2023 was Flagstaff’s fifth snowiest year on record, with more than 163 inches of snow.

National Weather Service Flagstaff meteorologist Brian Klimowski said temperatures have fluctuated this fall and early winter, but December tends to be 5 to 10 degrees warmer than average.

“Everything has been challenging this fall, from extremely warm temperatures in late September and early October to record high temperatures, to a colder-than-usual November,” Klimovsky said. “It looks like it’s warmer than normal again.”

Lack of snow can have a negative impact on your business.

According to the study According to Northern Arizona University, 167,000 people visited Flagstaff during the winter of 2022-2023 to play in some type of snow.

This added $19.7 million to the local economy, and snow tourism generated $181,800 in tax revenue for Coconino County.

But Klimovsky said this is also a double-edged sword, as less snow could mean more access to higher ground.

“If we get a lot of snow, the interstates can be closed,” he says. “It could deter people from coming here. It could also draw a lot of people out to play in the snow.”

He also said a La Niña year could mean drier and warmer winters.

But when Flagstaff had record snow two years ago, it was a La Niña year.

The holiday season is just weeks away, but the possibility of a white Christmas in Flagstaff remains in the air.

“You know, here in Flagstaff, we have a white Christmas about half the time,” Klimovsky said. “There’s probably a 55% chance of it happening. I’m going to make it a 50-50 fight this year.”

Klimovsky said a cold front will arrive next week, bringing temperatures down for several days, but no snow yet.

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