Thursday Travel and Weather Updates

Dec 30, 2010

Here's a comprehensive travel and weather update for Arizona.

There are several updates on weather and travel throughout the state.
Travel

The ADOT az511.gov site is overloaded, and you currently cannot get through on their website. But, ADOT still has Twitter to communicate with folks, and here is a collection of recent Twitter postings from ADOT. (See: http://twitter.com/#!/ArizonaDOT)

As you read the list below, please note that the latest posting is at the top. Our current time is at 8:00 AM, so that will give you reference when the tweets mention how long ago they were posted.

* ADOT's 5-1-1 system experiencing an overload. BE CLEAR: Roads to/from N. AZ are closed and will be for sometime. No snow adventures today!
43 minutes ago

* URGENT: I-40 from MP 71 to MP 250 (Kingman-Flagstaff-Holbrook) - Highway closed in both directions. Per NWS, more snow coming.
2 hours ago

* Closure Recap: I-40, I-17, SR-260, SR-87, SR-89A all closed at this time due to ice/snow. Updates 5-1-1 or www.az511.gov.
2 hours ago

* SR-260 MP 260 to MP 302 [Payson] - Winter storm and disabled vehicles, Road closed
2 hours ago

* SR-87 NB @ Payson (MP 250) - Winter storm and disabled vehicles, Road closed
2 hours ago

* I-40 is being closed EB at MP 71 (US93) and WB in Winslow.
2 hours ago

* L-101 EB at I-17 - Road Reopened
2 hours ago

* I-40 WB @ MP 115 [Seligman] - Weather, Traffic moving
3 hours ago

* L-101 EB at I-17 - Injury Crash, Road Closed
3 hours ago

* I-40 WB @ MP 115 [Seligman], Weather, Traffic stopped
3 hours ago

* It's cold, snowy, windy and icy out there. DRIVE INFORMED. Call 5-1-1 or visit www.az511.gov. Many highways remain closed, blocked.
4 hours ago

* SR87 @ MP 284.5 [Payson Org], Disabled vehicles, Southbound lanes blocked
4 hours ago

* US180 MP 237 - 255 [Flagstaff], Weather, Road closed
4 hours ago

* SR260 EB @ MP 280 [Payson], Disabled vehicle, Road blocked
4 hours ago

Thursday's Hazardous Weather Outlook

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of east central Arizona...North Central Arizona...Northeast Arizona and West
Central Arizona.

For more information, go to the National Weather website.

Day One...today and tonight

A strong and very cold winter storm will produce snowfall across central and northern Arizona today. Snow levels will fall to the valley floors. The heaviest snow will shift into eastern Arizona later this morning...with light to moderate snow showers continuing elsewhere.

Winter storm warnings and advisories continue today for most of Northern Arizona. See the winter storm warning product for details.

Days Two through Seven...Friday through Wednesday

Extremely cold temperatures are forecast on Friday and Friday night. Most areas will see high temperatures at or below freezing and low temperatures from the teens in the valleys...to well below zero in the mountains. After a break in the weather this weekend...more unsettled weather is possible next week.
More Details Regarding This Week's Coming Weather:

Thursday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Temperature falling to around 22 by 5pm. Breezy, with a west wind around 23 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. West northwest wind 14 to 17 mph decreasing to between 6 and 9 mph. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday: A 10 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a temperature rising to near 30 by 10am, then falling to around 20 during the remainder of the day. West northwest wind between 5 and 8 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14. West wind 5 to 9 mph becoming south.

New Year's Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. Light south southeast wind.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.

Sunday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Monday: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.

Monday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Tuesday: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Wednesday: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.
Wednesday News
National Weather Service

From the National Weather Service, as of about 6 PM Wednesday night:

...Strong winter storm in progress across northern and central Arizona...

A strong and cold Pacific storm system moved into Arizona this morning...spreading precipitation rapidly from west to east across the region throughout the day. Snow levels so far today have been in the 4000 to 5000 foot range. In addition to the snow...this system has also brought strong southwest winds to portions of the high country with areas of blowing and drifting snow. Below are the snowfall levels received so far today.

Snowfall reports as of 4 PM MST...

Parks 2N 12.0 inches 400 pm
Jacob Lake 8.0 inches 320 pm
Snowbowl Ski Area 8.0 inches 415 pm
Bellemont 7.0 inches 400 pm
6 NW Flagstaff 6.5 inches 349 pm
6 S Prescott 6.0 inches 300 pm
Williams 6.0 inches 315 pm
Flagstaff 7.0 inches 500 pm
Munds Park 6-8 inches 340 pm
Tonto Village 4.0 inches 307 pm
14 N Payson 4.0 inches 315 pm
Pine 4.0 inches 300 pm
Clints Well 4.0 inches 320 pm
Sedona 10 N 3.5 inches 415 pm
5 NW Prescott 3.5 inches 230 pm
5 N Ash Fork 3.0 inches 316 pm
14 NE Payson 3.0 inches 315 pm
Prescott 2.0 inches 330 pm
Window Rock 1.0 inches 1201 pm
Doney Park 1.0 inches 342 pm
Payson 0.5 inches 137 pm

...winter storm warning remains in effect until 5 PM MST Thursday Above 3500 feet...

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 5 PM MST Thursday.

* Timing: after a brief lull early this evening...expect snow to continue across the region through tomorrow. Snow will become heavy at times later tonight due to a strong cold front. snowfall rates will lessen by Thursday afternoon.

* Snow Levels: falling from around 4000 feet this evening to 2000 feet by early Thursday morning.

* Snow Accumulations: storm total snow amounts 12 to 24 inches above 6500 feet elevation. 6 to 12 inches between 5000 and 6500 feet. 2 to 6 inches between 4000 and 5000 feet. Locally higher snowfall amounts are possible...mainly on the southwest slopes of the mogollon rim and other west facing slopes of area mountains.

* Impacts: dangerous winter driving conditions will occur with some roadways becoming impassable. Southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts around 40 mph will cause extensive blowing and drifting snow with near zero visibilities at times. Near blizzard conditions are possible for portions of this storm...especially at higher elevations.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A winter storm warning means severe winter weather conditions are Expected or occurring...due to significant amounts of snow and Strong winds producing limited visibilities.

For the latest road conditions and closures...call the ADOT Freeway management system at 1 888 411 7623 or visit their web Site at az511.com.

Additional weather information is on the web at Weather.gov/Flagstaff.
Roads and Travel

Sr 87 and I-17

State Route 87 reopened; snow chains, 4x4 recommended

Northbound I-17 remains closed north of State Route 179

PHOENIX — As winter weather descends on Northern Arizona, the Arizona Department of Transportation is announcing the following highway opening under restriction, and affirms two existing closures:

State Route 87 northbound between mileposts 254 to 264 (north of Payson) - Road reopened but a snow chain or four-wheel-drive advisory has been issued due to weather following slide offs involving more than 20 vehicles.

I-17 northbound remains closed north of State Route 179. Traffic at this time is being diverted to southbound I-17. Drivers are advised to detour in advance or delay travels to avoid congestion at the turnaround. Southbound I-17 from Flagstaff remains open and passable for all vehicles.

State Route 89A remains closed from Pumphouse Wash at milepost 386 to Forest Highlands Road at milepost 397 due to winter conditions and resource allocation.

I-17 Closure

Travel Alert: I-17 Closed at SR-179;
I-40 May Close Due to Winter Weather

PHOENIX — Interstate 17 northbound has been closed at the junction of State Route 179, the Sedona turnoff, due to snowfall in Northern Arizona as part of the flurry of winter weather. Traffic is redirected to southbound I-17 because State Route 89A, the only alternative, remains closed.

In addition, Interstate 40 may close east of Flagstaff due to high winds and blowing snow as was experienced during last winter’s storms.

As conditions change, ADOT will inform drivers via the media, roadway message boards and other communication.

SR 89A

State Route 89A has closed, helping to prioritize snowplowing efforts.

Highway closed at 2 p.m. until at earliest Thursday afternoon.

FLAGSTAFF — As winter weather descends on Northern Arizona, the Arizona Department of Transportation is announcing the following highway closure:

State Route 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff (mileposts 386 at Pumphouse Wash to milepost 397 at Forest Highlands): This highwayclosed at 2 p.m. on Wednesday until at least Thursday afternoon to allow ADOT snowplow crews to prioritize efforts on Interstate and 17. As an alternate, drivers should use I-17.

Before heading out on the roads, drivers are encouraged to call 5-1-1 or log on to ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at www.az511.gov for the latest highway conditions around the state. The website features images along state highways that give drivers a glimpse of weather conditions in various regions. Driver safety tips are available from the Arizona Department of Public Safety at http://www.azdps.gov/Media/News/View/?p=280 or from ADOT at www.azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

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