Phoenix (3TV/CBS 5) – A winter storm blows toward Arizona and affects the entire state early in the morning. The Valley’s main impacts are high winds, cooler temperatures, and scattered showers. Gusts can reach speeds of up to 50 mph in parts of the valley. Also, low rainfall is expected, which can bring dust and reduce air quality. However, the East Valley had quite a bit of rain this morning as the outer swath of moisture was swept up into the state before the main storm. In Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Queen Creek he got more than two tenths of an inch of rain.
In northern Arizona, winter storm warnings are everything. Flagstaff could see 12 inches of fresh snow by Wednesday night. The pine top can add 18 inches of fresh snow. That, combined with high winds in the mountains, creates blizzard conditions that sometimes reduce visibility to zero. Travel can be very difficult, if not impossible. Some highways are expected to be partially closed. Unsettled weather will continue in the highlands for the rest of the week. Another foot of snow was seen in northern and eastern Arizona Saturday night through Sunday.
The temperature will drop as well. The desert sees highs only in the 50s on Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures will return to the high 70s by Saturday, but will drop again on Sunday.
AZFamily’s First Alert Weather Mobile App
AZFamily’s First Alert Weather App First allows you to track storms and receive severe weather alerts wherever you are. Get animated radar, hourly and 10-day forecasts, video updates, total precipitation, and interactive traffic maps. It also offers 250 meters of radar, the highest possible resolution. This radar allows you to look into the future, so you can see where the storm is headed.
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