Snow in Arizona high country stops freeway traffic, closes schools; Phoenix gets rain

The first of two predicted rounds of rain dropped on metro Phoenix early Monday, while parts of the high country got a load of troublesome snow.

BY MARCIA HAMMOND

Dec 12, 2022, 8:50 AM Updated: 1:00 pm

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PHOENIX – The first of two predicted rounds of rain dropped on metro Phoenix early Monday, while parts of the high country got a load of troublesome snow.

Bad weather conditions shut down northbound Interstate 17 near Munds Park for hours – multiple vehicles slid off the snowy road – and a snow-related crash closed eastbound I-40 near Williams until around 12:30 p.m., the Arizona Department of Transportation said.

Most of the Flagstaff area had between 5 and 7 inches of snowfall as of 5 a.m., the National Weather Service office said.

We generally saw 5-7" of snow between Bellemont and Flagstaff as of 5am this morning. An addition inch or so will be possible in this area the rest of the morning.

How much snow have you received so far? ❄️ #azwx pic.twitter.com/5NWN3pbff6

— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) December 12, 2022

Flagstaff and Williams school districts called off classes for the day after initially planning to start on a two-hour delay.

CLOSED: I-17 NB is closed at milepost 305 south of Munds Park due to multiple vehicles stuck in the snow. #aztraffic #azwx pic.twitter.com/aH4S5PpyOO

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) December 12, 2022

“Some redevelopment could be possible later this afternoon,” meteorologist Tony Merriman with weather bureau in Flagstaff told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

“We’re forecasting [in the morning] between 6 and 8 inches near Flagstaff and higher totals just north of Payson. The Forest Lakes area could maybe see upwards of 10 inches.”

Shortly after 10 a.m., ADOT closed westbound I-40 between mile markers 115 and 124 in Seligman and eastbound State Route 260 at mile marker 298 near Heber-Overgaard.

The weather watchers anticipate another couple of inches to fall Monday night.

Nothing that dramatic happened in Phoenix.

“We’re looking at maybe a quarter to half-inch of rain, but the general average is going to be about a quarter-inch,” Alex Young, a meteorologist with the weather bureau in Phoenix,

The early morning rain did leave varying totals around Phoenix and its suburbs from .08 inches in Tolleson to over a half-inch – .55 – at a spot in Scottsdale near McDowell Mountain Regional Park, according to a map at Maricopa County Flood Control District.

But after an hourslong break, there is a 40% chance for more rain in the Valley before 11 p.m., the weather service said.

Showers will taper off this morning leading to partly cloudy skies by mid-morning and continuing through the afternoon. A trailing weather disturbance will lead to isolated showers this evening. Highs will only get into the 50s! #azwx pic.twitter.com/PpPN9tbJ7b

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) December 12, 2022

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.