NAZ Today’s Matt Tantau is reporting that at least three separate accidents, with one involving a semi, have brought traffic to a stop in some places and a line of cars about a mile long in the southbound lanes coming from Flagstaff.

These accidents are the latest in a string of crashes during the most recent winter storm, which has dropped several inches of snow around Flagstaff since Saturday night.

One of the vehicles involved in three separate rollover accidents on I-17 Saturday night between 10 and 11 pm. (Chad Black/APSN.us)

Late Saturday night, three separate roll-over accidents occured between Kachina Village and Munds Park on I-17 within an hour of each other.  APSN’s Chad Black says that at least seven vehicles were involved, and six people were injured with one person sustaining life-threatening injuries.

Meteorologist Matt Tantau is forecasting an additional 2-4 inches of snow for the area this evening through early Monday morning.

Winter storm warnings and advisories are in effect around much of the state. The National Weather Service says the storm could leave more than a foot of snow in the higher elevations.

Snowfall totals as of Monday morning included 2 inches in Williams, 6 inches in Window Rock, between 5 and 8 inches in Flagstaff and 10 inches at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Officials warned of dangerous travel due to strong winds and heavy and blowing snow.

Some cities in the Phoenix area got up to three-fourths of an inch of rain Sunday.

Heavy rain and mountain snow was forecast for southern Arizona.

FILE - In a Wednesday, March 5, 2008 file photo, water flows from the number one and two jet tubes at the Glen Canyon Dam in Page, Ariz. to mimic natural flooding. A man-made flood sent torrents of water from Glen Canyon Dam on the Arizona-Utah line for 60 hours in 2008 in an effort to build up sandbars crucial for wildlife. The experiment, meant to mimic natural flooding in the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon proved beneficial, but scientists say the gains were short-lived. (AP Photo/Matt York)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — An experiment meant to mimic natural flooding in the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon proved beneficial, but scientists say the gains were short-lived.

A man-made flood sent torrents of water from Glen Canyon Dam on the Arizona-Utah line for 60 hours in 2008 in an effort to build up sandbars crucial for wildlife.

But U.S. Geological Survey researchers say the key to maintaining the sandbars is not simply manipulating the flows from the dam. They say the frequency and timing of the flows would have to exceed the erosion that occurs between them.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has called for more of the man-made floods through the Grand Canyon. The plan would be developed partly on the USGS reports released on Tuesday.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — In the Navajo community of Klagetoh, like others across the vast reservation, health representatives make it a point to know where all the high-risk residents live and what their medical needs are.

So when wintry weather stranded hundreds of people in deep snow and mud, community members got out their maps, pointed them out and relayed critical information to those tasked with reaching such residents who topped the priority list.

Without that knowledge, officials might have found themselves scrambling to locate residents in often rugged terrain where homes are typically isolated, miles apart from one another. “It would have been devastating,” says Flo Long, a volunteer with the Klagetoh response team.

Getting to the residents was the hard part. Heavy snow and deep mud made many roads across both the Navajo and Hopi reservations that cover northeastern Arizona inaccessible. While most residents who live in the most remote areas maintain strong ties to the land and can last days without leaving their homes, they found themselves still stuck after more than a week and unable to get to the grocery store and medical appointments.

The Navajo Nation declared a state of emergency after the most powerful in a series of winter storms hit the 27,000 square-mile reservation and much of the state on Jan. 21. A federal declaration followed.

Food, hay, water and coal were stockpiled at command posts across the reservation. National Guard helicopters carried supplies from Holbrook and air dropped them to residents who stamped out “Help” or “Need Food” in the snow.

Tribal members familiar with communities went along on some flights, helping to identify the homes of residents in need.

“They know the lay of the land, they know the people,” state Department of Emergency Management spokesman Eric Neitzel said Saturday. “Without them, we’d still be in Day 2 mode.”

Anyone with an immediate medical need was asked to wave a red cloth or lay down on the ground. It’s a system similar to one Navajo officials have used in the past where a certain color designated the need for food, hay, water or medical assistance.

Though a few calls trickle in each day from concerned family members who haven’t heard from or seen loved ones, tribal officials believe most medical needs have been addressed and are transitioning to working with residents in remote areas and with livestock. Selena Manychildren, a spokeswoman for the Navajo Department of Emergency Management, said livestock owners are encouraged to find temporary shelter for their animals that can get infections spread through muddy waters.

The relief effort based in Holbrook is expected to continue through the first part of the week and eventually be turned over to tribal officials. More than 36,000 meals, 30,000 gallons of water, 120 tons of coal and 5,600 blankets have been sent to the Navajo and Hopi tribes.

Major roadways have been cleared, but the lack of heavy equipment in some areas has delayed response to secondary roads. Residents are encouraged to travel early in the morning or late at night when the ground is frozen to avoid getting stuck in the mud — something they’re well accustomed to dealing with.

Coconino County Supervisor Lena Fowler, who is Navajo, said the communities’ response to the storm has been impressive. The health representatives do weekly, if not daily checks on residents with medical needs, working together with area hospitals.

“They’ve been good at getting themselves ready,” said Fowler, who aided with relief efforts in the Tuba City area. “They know where their families live, and what they’ve done is organize themselves at the local level and try to get to people.”

I-17 North bound at mile post 235.6 (New River) – Road closed due to landslide at MP 237/Cordes Junction area.

Desert View Drive, the eastern-most portion of the Grand Canyon rim road, is closed and
expected to remain closed for the evening.

I-17/I-40: Closed as of 6pm until further notice.

State route 89A closed from Flagstaff to Sedona.

SR-89A SB @ MP 342.8 (Prescott/Sedona) – Road has reopened following mudslide

US 180 (mile post 236.8 to 250, Flagstaff) is closed and is expected to remain closed for the rest of this week.

SR 87 NB: One lane closed due to mud/rockslide just south off Slate Creek/Sunflower (approx. MP 200)- highway may be closed due to unstable roadway conditions.

SR 87 @ mp 338.9 (Holbrook Dist, Winslow area) – Highway has reopened with chains and 4-wheel drive required between Winslow and Pine/Strawberry.

SR 260: 4-wheel drive and chains are required between Heber and Payson.

Hermit Road, the western-most portion of the Grand Canyon Rim Road is closed until further noticed due to poor driving conditions.

SR 97 at mile post  157 (Kingman Dist, Wikieup area) – Highway closed due to flooding and rocks.

US 60, Globe to Show Low — Chains or4-wheel drive required (Salt River Canyon).

SR 88 mp 213-226 (Globe)- Closed due to flooding.

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Check back here at NAZ Today for updates on the latest road closures and conditions.

**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.”

Officials cited “worsening conditions” in their decision to close the whole campus, and are discouraging people from coming to campus so that crews can try to clear snow from sidewalks and parking lots.  Only designated, essential employees report to work on snow days.

Stick with NAZToday.com as we bring you the latest information on snow closures in the Flagstaff area.

DPS Command Post set up at the ADOT Flagstaff District Office on Milton Road (NAZ Today/Patrick Walker)

*This story first appeared Monday, 1/18*

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today)– The threat of several feet of snow this week has prompted the Department of Public Safety to set up a command post in Flagstaff.

After working with a “skeleton crew” earlier this morning, a full shift’s worth of DPS officers were on duty by the afternoon hours in the Flagstaff area, according to DPS Sgt. Brian Eekhoff.  He said that there were already a number of slide-offs that officers were responding to on area highways and interstates.  If the number of slide-offs and accidents continues to grow, Eekhoff says that additional officers could be called in from other towns like Camp Verde and Prescott.

Back in December, DPS officers were very busy during the snowstorm that included a blizzard at one point.  Because of the number of officers working during the storm and the area that had to be covered, it was hard to coordinate efforts with other departments.  ”We had some trouble communicating with ADOT during the peak of the storm, so we decided to set up a command post right here [at the ADOT District Office on Milton],” Sgt. Eekhoff said.  The command post will allow for supervisors to more effectively communicate with ADOT officials next door in their offices, helping to coordinate information on road conditions, accident locations, and road closures as needed.

ADOT snow plows in formation clear Milton Road in front of Target. DPS is working to better coordinate with ADOT. (NAZ Today/Patrick Walker)

Eekhoff also says that there is somewhat of a pattern with the accidents that happen during snowstorms.  He says that the bulk of the accidents and slide-offs that DPS responds to happen when the storms are just starting, or while you can still see asphalt.  Out of town drivers, especially motorists from California heading east on I-40 or from Phoenix heading north on I-17, continue driving at normal speeds and hit the slick roads, causing the accidents.  Accidents tend to decrease in frequency when the roads become snow-packed and several inches have accumulated on the side of the road, because motorists slow down and drive more carefully with the presence of the snow, Eekoff added.

DPS Command Vehicle (NAZ Today/Patrick Walker)

As always, DPS reminds motorists to slow down and increase stopping distances during times of bad weather.  Be mindful of stopped vehicles and emergency workers near accidents.

Students who are unable to get to campus should contact their instructors. Employees who are unable to get to work should contact their supervisors or follow normal departmental procedures to provide notification of an absence.