A winter storm warning has been issued for high altitude areas as Arizona prepares for the first of two winter storms to begin Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service.
Northern Arizona through the White Mountains and areas above 5,000 feet are among the areas affected by the storm warning. A high wind warning was issued for the White Mountains at 11:00 PM Saturday and will last until 8:00 AM Sunday.
About 8 to 12 inches of snow were expected in areas along the highlands Saturday night through Sunday. Snow levels will reach 6,000 to 6,500 feet Saturday night, dropping to 5,000 to 6,000 feet on Sunday.
The National Weather Service estimates Flagstaff will have two to three feet of snow by Tuesday evening.
A winter storm warning was issued for Flagstaff on Saturday, and winter weather advisories were issued for the Coconino Plateau, the Yavapai County Mountains, northern Gila County, the White Mountains and the Chuska Mountains.
Hazardous travel conditions were expected to begin Saturday night and continue through Tuesday in the northern and eastern parts of the state, with possible whiteout conditions through noon Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Flagstaff. .
Paige Swenson, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Flagstaff, said:
Swenson said the lack of breaks between snowfalls results in continuous mixing of snow, making snow management difficult.
“It will be difficult to keep plowing everything,” said Swenson.
Swenson also warned that winter storms in the north and east of the state could cause spotty power outages.
Swenson said there was also concern about the possibility of tree branches snapping and rocks sliding down in highly prone areas around Oak Creek Canyon, on Highway 89, south of Black Canyon City.
Flagstaff’s National Weather Service has urged travelers to stay home this weekend.
“Be prepared for additional heavy snowfall, gusty winds, very cold temperatures, and times when travel is difficult or impossible,” the Japan Meteorological Agency said in a tweet Saturday afternoon.
Swenson said the combination of high winds and snowfall could create blizzards and falling tree branches, making travel even more dangerous over the weekend and early next week.
The National Weather Service recommends that residents “warm up” their cars, pack emergency kits, and avoid non-essential travel during the high-impact winter storms that occur Saturday-Tuesday. I’m here.
Arizona Department of Public Safety We recommend keeping the following items in your winter weather emergency supply kit.
- mobile phone and charger
- water
- Winter clothes/blankets
- Prescription drugs
- first aid kit
- Flashlight with spare battery
- ice scraper
- A small bag of sand or cat litter for wheel traction
- Compact shovel for snow removal
- Travel Toolkit and Battery Cable
- safety flare
- non-perishable snacks
- Roadmap
The Bureau of Meteorology said conditions were expected to improve from next Wednesday and Thursday, but showers could continue into the weekend.
Rain, Cool Temperatures on Deck in Southern Phoenix, Arizona
Rainfall and below-average temperatures are expected throughout the weekend in southern Arizona and Phoenix, which could continue into Wednesday.
Residents of low-lying desert areas can expect water to flow into the wash, which is usually dry, and low roads can be flooded, Swenson said.
“This can lead to difficult driving conditions, especially if you’re driving on dirt roads or roads in general,” says Swenson.
Residents can refer to Arizona Department of Transportation Safety Tips Best practices when driving in the rain.
A second winter storm that hits Monday will bring cold temperatures to Phoenix and Tucson all weekend, which runs through Wednesday, according to the Phoenix National Weather Service.
“Most desert areas will see highs in the 50s on Tuesday,” the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Dry conditions are expected to return to the lower desert areas from Thursday, but temperatures remain cool, according to the Met Office. Lows were expected to be cooler than last week, with lows in the 30s.
