Heavy snow south of Flagstaff; I-40 westbound closed due to crash

PHOENIX — As heavy snow fell in the Flagstaff area Thursday morning, Interstate 40 westbound was closed for several hours due to a crash, and the National Weather Service urged drivers to slow down.

The accident shut down all westbound lanes near milepost 176, about 15 miles west of Flagstaff, around 9 a.m., according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Eastbound traffic was not affected.

Around noon, traffic resumed in one lane as cleanup continued.

Here's the earlier crash that closed I-40 westbound about 15 miles west of #Flagstaff at 9 a.m. One lane just reopened. Please use caution in the area as crews continue cleaning up after the crash. #aztraffic #azwx pic.twitter.com/uXyCkI3ntJ

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) May 23, 2019

The snowfall, which began around 9:15 a.m., created “hazardous travel” conditions, according to NWS Flagstaff.

Drivers were encouraged to use caution or delay traveling.

Heavy snow at the NWS Office in Bellemont at 915 AM. Hazardous travel along I-40 in this area as well as I-17 from just south of Flagstaff to Munds Park. Use caution or delay travel. #azwx pic.twitter.com/CQ5iNVdEmb

— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) May 23, 2019

Additionally, there were slide-offs in the Munds Park area are 9:30 a.m., ADOT tweeted with a warning that roads are slick.

There have been showers around Arizona on Wednesday as 0.06 inches fell at Phoenix Sky Harbor, according to NWS Phoenix. There has now been 0.10 inches this month.

Phoenix temperature was as low as 54 degrees Wednesday morning, 17 degrees below normal for the date, according to NWS Phoenix. The high reached just 76, 21 degrees below normal.

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