Highways shut down as whiteout conditions, strong winds persist in northern AZ
Flagstaff and several other northern Arizona communities are locked in as a severe storm driven by powerful winds moves across the state.
The Arizona Department of Transportation said Wednesday morning that most highways leading to Flagstaff are shut down. Those include Interstate 17 from Phoenix, U.S. 180 north of Snowbowl, State Route 89A connecting Flagstaff to Sedona and nearly 200 miles of Interstate 40.
State highways leading to Indian Pine, Greer and Heber-Overgaard are also closed.
The National Weather Service reported sustained winds topping 75 miles an hour east of the Peaks. While those winds have slowed, they’re still driving snow across much of Arizona’s high country leading to white out conditions.
And the Weather Service forecasted that a winter storm warning will remain in effect until 11 p.m. on Wednesday night.
Highway and road closures as of Thursday morning
- I-40 eastbound between U.S. 93 and Winslow
- I-40 westbound between Holbrook and U.S. 93
- SR 87 between Winslow and Payson
- SR 260 in both directions between Camp Verde and Payson
- SR 260 eastbound between Indian Pine and Greer
- U.S. 180 north of Snowbowl
- SR 89A Sedona and I-17
- I-17 northbound between SR 179 and Flagstaff
- SR 64 near the Grand Canyon
- U.S. 191 near Alpine
You betcha, same here in northern Arizona. Whiteout conditions, blowing snow, wind gusts up to 80 mph and we're advising no travel, too.
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) February 22, 2023
Be safe, winter friends. https://t.co/X48PnWp4Xt pic.twitter.com/cj9wQeIzw6
