Arizona Buckles Down for Rare Blizzard

(CBS/AP)  Snow is falling in parts of northern Arizona as a powerful winter storm moves into the region.

The KNXV-TV current weather conditions report says Flagstaff is being hit with flurries and the snowfall and winds are expected to increase dramatically throughout the day.

CBS News affiliate KPHO-TV in Phoenix reports that five to seven inches of snow could fall in Flagstaff.

The National Weather Service has issued a rare blizzard warning for the mountains of northern Arizona from 8 a.m. Monday through noon Tuesday.

Meteorologist Robert Bohlin in Flagstaff says forecasters are predicting 1 to 2 feet of snow for elevations above 6,000 feet.

Southwest winds of 30 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph will create blowing and drifting snow conditions making it hard for snowplow crews, so drivers are being advised to stay home Monday if they can.

Bohlin said blizzards are uncommon in northern Arizona because "we typically don't have all the criteria necessary to get conditions going."

"And typically that's strong winds, extremely low visibilities and lots of snow for at least three hours," he said.

The forecaster said winds from the southwest at 20 to 35 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph will create blowing and drifting snow conditions making it hard for Arizona Department of Transportation snowplow crews to keep up.

Drivers were advised to stay home Monday if they don't have to drive in the high country. Travel conditions are expected to improve Tuesday afternoon.

Meteorologist Justin Johndrow with the National Weather Service in Flagstaff said a separate winter storm warning is in effect above 5,000 feet and includes the White Mountains of eastern Arizona.

The blizzard warning area extends from the San Francisco Peaks across much of the Mogollon Rim and almost to the White Mountains, above 6,000 feet, Bohlin said.

The first snow was expected to begin falling late Sunday with the brunt of the storm slamming Flagstaff through Monday night and into early Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Transportation Department road crews plan to be out in force plowing Monday and Tuesday, but drivers were told that many roads will become impassable because of blowing snow.

The department said the budget deficit, created by $500 million in diverted transportation funds and declining revenue, has hit a variety of services like highway maintenance, which includes snowplowing.

The agency's response to individual storm events will vary based upon the severity of the storm and the availability of people and equipment to respond.

[NorAZWoman]

Snow - eevn heavy, blizzard-like snow, is pretty much the norm for Flagstaff in December - I know - I live here. It's NOT Phoenix, you know.

[ubrew12]

N Arizona is like at 5000 ft. That might have something to do with the cold. It can be cold there in the summer.

[jankebenzone]

The north has seen both tropical forestation and ice ages over long periods of time, yet the climate change criers believe that humans are responsible for this alleged change in temps. That same logic of gullibility is chiefly responsible for the economic slump we now have, too many people who are unable to think on their own, must rely on what the "experts" have to say. This whole global warming paranoia is just a huge fleece
job orchestrated by the greedy to pilfer more money out of the public.

[canislupus16]

"This whole global warming paranoia is just a huge fleece
job orchestrated by the greedy to pilfer more money out of the public."

And you mean... just what?... how? If you think doing something about global warming is expensive, think about what doing nothing will cost, as hurricanes wreak ever more destruction. As coastlines creep higher wiping out multiple billions, if not trillions, of dollars of investment in facilities, infrastructure, and other real estate improvements at or near coastlines around the world. The associated loss of human life.

Weather comes and goes. It's the trends on the big things, like shrinkage of the polar ice cap; longer for freeze up in the winter; earlier melt out in the spring.

On this continent, northerly migration/presence of previously more southern plants and animals.

The effects of global warming may not be readily evident with a single weather event. The trends have convinced me that we have to do something.

[ikestarnes]

Clearly Bush's fault.

[mejordelahistoria]

Global warming has to do with warming of the ocean and the melting of the polar caps, this can affect the way the currents work and therefore can create weather that is unusual....... it can make it snow in the Sahara, it can increase chances of floods in places where normally this would not happen, etc. etc..... it's very clear that a lot of you sleep during science class, don't read before making comments, or you are just simply imbeciles and morons.

[clancy49]

Call it global warming or global cooling, the fact is that as stewards of this planet we are not doing too good of a job. We are over populated and are ravaging this planet for our convenience and comforts. We have raped earth of her fresh air and clean water. It doesn't matter what climate you call it. We need to address our stewardship.

[mejordelahistoria]

ew are over populating the planet because christian and islamic fascists don't want anything to do with birth control or condoms and reproduce like the rats and cockroaches they are. On top of that we got these ignorant idiots from the right that think that a GED is equivalent to a Ph.D.

[bearsfaninoh]

I hate how global warming makes everything so cold! Places getting snow like they haven't had in years! Silly global warming!

[lmartink]

It has now been 21 years since the Global Warming scientists testified to Congress and the Senate in 1988. They never predicted unending heat; instead they warned that cold spells would be 15% colder; that winds would be 15% stronger; that floods would be 15% higher; that weather patterns would spread out by 15%, etc etc.

Everything they predicted has come true, except sooner and more severe that those early predictions Everything.

It is not possible to figure out Climate Change with a GED. Do not try to figure this out by yourself.

[actornaught]

"Moscow Has Warmest December Day Ever"

I like the part about how the neo-conned don't understand "average".

Fifth grade much?...

[News2579]

Looks like we have global cooling, not global warming.