Drought Blinks, Snow Falls

Yaki Point after Snowstorm breaks 39-day dry spell | Photo by Mike Buchheit

Grand Canyon’s first snowfall in the month of January came within hours of turning the calendar to February. The two inches of powder that graced the tinder-dry forests and moisture-starved inner canyon was a welcome sight indeed.

Without a significant storm or two (or three?) in the coming weeks, northern Arizona is likely to notch its driest winter on record. Locals would agree that the stress on the ecosystem, and dire prelude to the summer wildfire season, is hardly worth the lower winter heating bills and free pass on snow shoveling. Water is life as they saying goes, and a good multi-day soaker could not come at a better time.

Arizona Daily Sun article showing drought map and table: Record dry expands drought in Flagstaff

About Mike Buchheit

Mike Buchheit was the director of the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute for over 25 years, a professional landscape photographer and instructor, a freelance travel writer, and a popular lecturer on a wide variety of Grand Canyon-related topics. As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he called home.

As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he calls home. You can see some of his beautiful work on his Grand Canyon Prints website.