**FILE** Several northern Arizona roads are closed due to poor conditions. (NAZ Today/Patrick Walker)
PHOENIX (NAZ Today)– The Department of Public Safety is urging motorists to avoid travelling to and around northern Arizona. Heavy snow at the higher elevations and heavy rain south of the Mogollon Rim has made it extremely difficult for ADOT crews to keep some roads open.
In northern Arizona, heavy snow has caused Interstate 17 to close between Camp Verde and Flagstaff. Both I-17 and I-40 will be closed Thursday night at 6 pm until further notice. Snow also caused the closure of SR 89A through Oak Creek Canyon from Flagstaff to Sedona. US 180 (Fort Valley Road) is closed from mile post 236-250 north of Flagstaff until further notice due to snowfall. Further east, ADOT and DPS briefly closed SR 87 between Winslow and Pine/Strawberry, although ADOT was able to clear the road enough to open it. Chains and four-wheel drive are required to travel on that stretch of highway.
The City of Flagstaff declared a State of Emergency earlier this afternoon, to free up personnel and resources to help battle all of the snow falling in the area. Mayor Sara Presler has been on several local radio stations and the Weather Channel to help spread the word about the current situation in Flagstaff.
The snowfall has caused a few government entities to declare States of Emergency as well, including Navajo County and the City of Williams. Navajo County is expected to activate evacuation shelters, which will be located in Show Low at the McNeil Gym – 620 E. McNeil, and in Heber/Overgaard at Mogollon High School in Heber. “This is a very dangerous storm,” declared Navajo County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jesse Thompson. “This declaration of emergency reflects the County’s commitment to fulfill its responsibility to protect and assist our residents at this time.” The Show Low Fire Department is also reporting numerous power outages across the town of Show Low.
Flagstaff has activated its Emergency Operations Center. (Courtesy: flagstaff.az.gov)
In Flagstaff, snow and a brief rain shower before returning to heavy snow are anticipated through early Satrurday morning. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect through noon Saturday, stating that 2-4 feet are possible above 6500 feet, and 3-5 feet are possible above 7000 feet during that time period. The City of Flagstaff activated its Emergency Operations Center inside the Flagstaff Police Department at 7 pm Wednesday night, allowing for city and county agencies to coordinate efforts during this winter storm.
Heavy rain is the story for areas south of Flagstaff. Several communities at the base of the Mogollon Rim are bracing for potential flooding, with several rivers predicted to rise well above flood stage, according to the National Weather Service. 5-6 inches of rainfall are expected in parts of Yavapai County and central Gila County, with 6-7 inches predicted for northern Gila County in the Payson area and in isolated areas of Yavapai County, upwards of 8 inches of rain may fall, according to NWS forecast models. Sedona is preparing for flooding along Oak Creek, and flooding of the Verde River in the Verde Valley. South of Payson, tributaries that are flowing into the Tonto Basin and Roosevelt Lake are also expected to flood, including Tonto Creek. SRP is releasing water from many of its dams down the Salt River into Phoenix in anticipation of heavy rain over all of its tributaries and high volumes of runoff from further north. The greater Phoenix area itself may also see several inches of rain Thursday, with heavy rain again being the story Friday.
Additional DPS officers have been sent to Flagstaff to help DPS and CCSO officers that have been working to help motorists along state highways and Interstates (NAZ Today/Patrick Walker)
All of this means dangerous driving conditions, whether it is navigating flooded streets in the rain or snowpacked roads and blowing snow conditions in northern Arizona. The Department of Public Safety is activating its Emergencency Operations Center in Phoenix to better coordinate its efforts with other agencies across the state, including ADOT, the National Weather Service, and other state, county, and local public works and emergency agencies. Here in northern Arizona, the Phoenix EOC will coordinate with the DPS Command Post in Flagstaff. DPS says that additional officers have been sent across the state, including to Flagstaff, to assist with patrolling the highways and responding to calls for help. In a release this morning, the Department of Public Safety discouraged travel in the higher elevations: ”DPS is discouraging ALL travel to Northern Arizona at this time due to adverse weather conditions.”
You guys are doing a great job keeping up with current news and updates! We appreciate your local Flagstaff coverage.
what does road closure really mean? will they actually block 17 and not let people through?
Yes, they will block the on-ramps to I-17 and I-40 to keep people from getting onto the freeway. Some on-ramps also have gates which they can close.
A very big thank you to all personnel working hard to help Flagstaff and all of Northern Arizona during this incredible series of storms! We know you are working long, hard hours in cold and dangerous conditions. Your pay does not reflect the worth of what you do. I hope you all know how grateful we are! And thank you to our Mayor for wisely calling a State of Emergency for Flagstaff!!
Hello , thanks for keeping the public up to speed as best as you can, we are traveling to Show Low from Oro Valley this afternoon, is the road open from the Salt River Canyon to Show Low?
I weht through this in 1997, and this is worse. We have upwards of 7ft of snow and counting. Most people left 2 days ago, but I have 2 kids, and no where to go. The fire station up here in Forest Lakes are great, they make sure we are okay. My thanks to them,and everyone I work with at the Payson Walmart, for their well wishes.