White Christmas: Snow up north, chilly in Phoenix for holiday

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Northern Arizona is in store for a white Christmas, while temperatures are expected to be chilly in the Phoenix area over the holiday.

The National Weather Service said a cold front will plunge into Arizona on Thursday and stick around for the holiday, bringing snow, winds and cold temperatures. Snow levels are expected to fall to 3,000 feet or lower.

Meteorologist Tom Clemmons said that the Mogollon Rim near Payson could be due for some snow fall near the end of the week.

“Places around the Rim will probably pick up anywhere from 2-6 inches, and then we’ve got another one that’s much colder and more potent system that’s due to come through late on Thursday and into Friday.”

Flagstaff might resemble a winter wonderland. The northern Arizona town is expecting slight snow showers through Christmas. Temperatures will slowly decrease from high 30s to high 20s as the holiday approaches.

While a repeat of 2013’s Snowgate is not expected to happen, Phoenix will also be chilly over the holiday.

According to the weather service, the Valley of the Sun will have temperatures as low as 35 degrees, with highs near 60, throughout the holiday week. Those temperatures would be the coldest on average Phoenix has experienced this time of year since 2011.

The forecast for Christmas Day is a high of 57 degrees and a low of 36 degrees.

KTAR’s Cooper Rummell and the Associated Press contributed to this story.

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