FLAGSTAFF, Arizona (AP) — Severe cold, rain and snow raged across much of the southwestern United States on Tuesday, closing interstate highways and state highways in northern Arizona. cold on the way.
A winter storm warning remains in place through Wednesday night for much of northern Arizona and New Mexico, according to the National Weather Service.
40 miles (64 kilometers) of Interstate 17 from Lake Montezuma north to Flagstaff was closed Tuesday night. A short section of Interstate 40 near Winslow was also closed as the strong cold front continued to move east.
Parts of northern Arizona, including Flagstaff, are likely to see snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) per hour, the Bureau of Meteorology said late Tuesday.
The Flagstaff Weather Service warned that “the combination of heavy snowfall and blizzards will reduce visibility on local roads, leading to hazardous driving conditions.”
The National Weather Service forecast late Tuesday that the Sierra along the California-Nevada border will see overnight lows below 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-17 degrees Celsius), with parts of Arizona forecast to hit 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Announced that it will be in the digits.
“The impact of the winter storm will be concentrated throughout northeastern New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon and evening before the system shuts down on Wednesday night, potentially leading to near-blizzard conditions,” Albuquerque said. weather service said late Tuesday.
Reno services warned early Wednesday that wind chills of -20 to -30 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 to -34 degrees Celsius) “will be downright dangerous in exposed areas of the High Sierra.” .
A gust of up to 88 mph (141 km/h) was recorded in the central Sierra of Mammoth Mountain, south of Yosemite National Park, early Tuesday morning, the agency said.
