Another round of snow, wind causes closures in northern Arizona

Snowstorm slams Flagstaff, Arizona

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Winter weather bringing wind and snow returned Wednesday, prompting many northern Arizona closures.

“Blowing snow and slick roads will greatly impact travel today and early Thursday” by reducing visibility to a hazardous rate, the National Weather Service in Flagstaff said in a statement.

Wind chills from overnight would likely drop temperatures to single digits, the weather service added.

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Winter storm warnings for areas above 4,000 feet

A winter weather warning remained in effect until 8 a.m. Thursday for most of northern Arizona. The areas affected were those above 4,000 feet near Dorey Park, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, North Rim, Sedona, Valle and Williams, according to the weather service.

© Lacey Latch/The Republic NAU students walk around campus on Feb. 23, 2022, after classes were canceled for a second day due to inclement weather.

Southwest winds reaching 45 mph and “significant” snowfall in areas above 5,000 feet with accumulating snow expected in lower valley areas were projected Wednesday by the National Weather Service Flagstaff.

Highway, school closures

U.S. 180 north of Snowbowl, off mileposts 236-248, was shut down, and Interstate 40 eastbound was closed between U.S. 93 and Ash Fork, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

At the Grand Canyon, Desert View Drive off State Route 64 from Grand Canyon Village to the east entrance at Desert View was closed, while South Entrance Road to Grand Canyon Village was open.

U.S. 93 was also closed southbound from the Nevada state line to Interstate 40. State Route 68 was also closed west of Kingman between mileposts 6-18.

Even the scariest come out to play in the Flagstaff snow

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“You should avoid traveling in winter weather to avoid situations where highways are impassable for long periods of time,” read a statement on ADOT’s website. 

Coconino County administrative offices appeared unaffected, while Flagstaff administrative offices and non-essential services were closed. The city’s website did say all available snow weather equipment and operators were in use 24 hours a day to tend to roads.

The unified school districts for Flagstaff, Humboldt, Prescott and Williams suspended classes for the day.

Additionally, in-person classes at Northern Arizona University’s Flagstaff Mountain Campus, NAU-Yavapai and Show Low campuses were called off for the day. Coconino County Community College’s Flagstaff campuses also did not open Wednesday. 

Citing unsafe driving conditions, Lowell Observatory announced it was closed on Wednesday.

Winter snowstorm hits northern Arizona

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Meanwhile, the Mountain Lion bus system schedule remained in place with possible delays due to the weather.

Citing the projected snowstorm, Sacred Peaks Health Center in Flagstaff closed its clinics and pharmacy.

Many of these closures reflect similar activity last Thursday in northern Arizona because of the weather.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Another round of snow, wind causes closures in northern Arizona