File:Snow around the Grand Canyon (MODIS 2018-12-08).jpg

English: A far-reaching winter storm brought heavy snow to Arizona in late November, 2018 before sweeping northeastward to bring ice and snow to a wide swath of states, including Maine, before moving offshore. The Weather Center reported that 10 inches (25.4 cm) of fresh snow fell on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on November 30, while Flagstaff acquired 5.8 in (14.7 cm). Light snow continued through much of Arizona through December 2.

On December 3, 2018, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image centered on the Grand Canyon after the passing of the storm. The rugged terrain of the Grand Canyon, carved primarily by the Colorado River over the past six millions years, is one of North America’s most spectacular geological features. Spanning about 277 miles (466 km) of the Arizona Desert, the canyon drops as much as 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) to reach the winding Colorado River.

The North Rim is the highest elevation in Grand Canyon National Park, reaching over 8,000 feet (2,438 m). According to the National Park Service, winter precipitation usually falls as snow on the rims, but melts to rain before reaching the canyon floor. The North Rim receives the heaviest snowfall, averaging 142” per year, with a record snowfall of 272.8” (almost 23 feet) in 1978. The South Rim averages 58” of snow, and Phantom Ranch less than 1”.