Flagstaff, Arizona (3TV/CBS 5/AP) – Interstate 17 has reopened between Cordes Lake and Camp Verde. Dangerous road conditions have prompted ADOT to close the highway for much of the morning commute.
As the Family First Alert Weather Team in Arizona had predicted days ago, the storm system began moving into the area on Sunday, bringing temperatures down across much of the state. The Arizona Department of Transportation said there is no estimated time when the highway can reopen.SR-260 is closed between Camp Verde and his SR-87. Payson’s traveler cannot head north of his SR-87. Portions of his SR-64 near the Grand Canyon have been closed for weeks near Milepost 242 and Milepost 265.
A Family News drone from Arizona flew over the Camp Verde site while dozens of travelers remained stranded on the highway. Many people were seen getting out of their cars and walking around to experience the weather, but officials warned that people were safe inside their vehicles, not outside. I always tell them to keep an emergency kit in the car when traveling in possible storm conditions.
“This storm could bring 4 to 8 inches of snow in areas over 5,500 feet like Flagstaff and Pinetop, and 1 to 3 inches in areas below 5,500 feet like Heber and Williams. Yes,” First Alert forecaster Holly Bock reported Sunday evening. A Wind Advisory is in effect for most of Western Arizona through 5:00 PM.
Cold fronts like this have prompted the Bureau of Meteorology to issue freeze watchdogs to much of the Valley and Pinal County. “It’s getting colder on Monday and most parts of the Valley he’s struggling to reach 50-degree territory,” Bock said. Early reports suggested that Wickenburg, Surprise and White had a rainstorm in the He Tank area.
The Associated Press reported that Monday’s storm is likely to significantly increase the already near-record snowfall in Flagstaff in January.
NWS officials said Sunday the city had 57.9 inches of snow accumulated so far this month. This is his fourth-highest amount on record for a January, behind the total snowfall in 1949 (104.8 inches), 1980 (63.4 inches) and 1979 (59.4 inches). Flagstaff’s normal January snowfall is he 20.9 inches. Snowfall data is from Flagstaff Airport, which has weather records dating back to 1898.
The Associated Press contributed to his report.
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