The snow is still slowing down and inhibiting mail delivery. You can help!
Update: Powerful winter storm hampers travel across much of Arizona
With snow continuing to fall, putting off travel is safest option
NOTE: Updates with major closures as of 7:15 p.m.
PHOENIX – Multiple stretches of Arizona’s highways were closed as of Thursday evening, Feb. 21, due to a powerful winter storm that continued across much of the state.
With the heavy weather expected to last into Friday and snow forecast to extend into eastern and southeastern Arizona overnight, the safest option remained delaying travel to and through higher elevations until the Arizona Department of Transportation’s plows have cleared highways of snow and ice. Motorists in lower elevations may see some snow along with considerable rainfall.
Wherever they travel in whatever weather they face, motorists should slow down for safety and expect the unexpected. Those traveling in areas with snow and ice should give ADOT’s plows plenty of room to work, staying at least four vehicle lengths behind and never passing a working plow until the operator pulls over to let traffic pass.
As of 7:15 p.m. Thursday, these were the major highway closures around Arizona. Because the situation remains dynamic, the best ways to keep track of highway closures, restrictions and conditions are following ADOT’s Twitter account at (@ArizonaDOT), calling 511, using the freeADOT Alerts app available at ADOTAlerts.com and visiting the Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov. A pop-up alert on ADOT’s homepage, azdot.gov, has an updated list of major closures:
- I-17 northbound at State Route 179, milepost 298
- Both directions of State Route 87 between Bush Highway and Winslow, mileposts 238-250
- Both directions State Route 260 between Star Valley and Heber-Overgaard, mileposts 256-302, and eastbound State Route 260 east of milepost 228 near Interstate 17
- Both directions of SR 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff, mileposts 375-398
- US 60 between Superior and Globe, at milepost 316
If you decide to travel, slow down for safety, budget plenty of time and leave prepared for the possibility that you will be delayed by closures related to weather and crashes. Four-wheel-drive vehicles and chains are recommended in areas with heavy snow.
ADOT has winter-driving tips available at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.
City of Prescott Snow Event 5:00 p.m. Status Report
City of Prescott Solid Waste Division Collection Will Commence Early Due to Expected Snow
Most school campuses are closed today for President’s Day. But, Yavapai College is supposed to be open. And then, the snow came.
Prescott could get as much as 10" of snow with this latest storm. Flagstaff is looking at a possible 15". Snow levels expected to be at 2500-3000 feet.
The National Weather Service has put a Flash Flood Watch into effect for much of Northern Arizona.
Snow? Not much, if any. We are likely to get some rain, though.
Expect the unexpected, leave plenty of room behind next vehicle
