Phoenix metro area, northern Arizona wake up to rainy commute Thursday
Dec 22, 2016, 8:46 AM | Updated: 11:22 am
(Twitter Photo/@ArizonaDOT)
PHOENIX — Workers in both Phoenix and northern Arizona woke up to steady rain Thursday morning that continued through the early rush hour.
Maricopa County Flood Control District gauges showed a majority of the Valley received between a quarter-inch and a half-inch of rain.
Most Valley freeways were relatively accident-free — aside from an early rollover on the Loop 101 in Scottsdale — but flowing slightly slower than normal because of the rain.
At least one highway near Phoenix was closed because of flooding.
Correction: It's 238 that's closed west of Maricopa at milepost 40 because of flooding. There's no ETA to reopen. pic.twitter.com/ZJ5s0syhT7
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) December 22, 2016
The National Weather Service said Flagstaff had received about an 1.2 inches of rain before 9 a.m. Thursday.
The Arizona Department of Transportation tweeted that drivers should use caution, particularly those heading north to Flagstaff on Interstate 17.
Most of I-17 is wet between Phoenix and Flagstaff. Slow down and allow some extra travel time today. #azwx pic.twitter.com/CryGDSE6xj
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) December 22, 2016
The precipitation was the first round of two storms that were expected to move into the state this week.
Darren McCollum with the National Weather Service in Flagstaff said the northern part of the state should wake up to snow on Sunday because of a cold front moving in from the Pacific Ocean.
“The Kaibab Plateau, Grand Canyon and White Mountains will see snow,” he said.
The weather service estimated Flagstaff will receive up to a foot of now, while nearby Williams could receive nearly 18 inches.
The cold front will also send temperatures plunging in Flagstaff nearly 20 degrees by Sunday.
Thursday’s rain was expected to move out of town by the evening, but it will likely return Saturday morning, when there is a 70 percent chance of showers. Another half-inch is possible.
Rain chances dwindle to 10 percent on Sunday.
KTAR’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.