WILLIAMS - The Arizona Department of Public Safety is reporting that Interstate 40 between mileposts 150 and 160 near Williams is closed in both directions due to winter weather and an accident. Snow and ice has been reported in both directions on I-40 from milepost 167 west of Williams to milepost 185 at Bellemont.
In several parts of northern Arizona there may be at least four inches of snow building on Arizona highways. DPS is requesting the motoring public to drastically slow down their travel speeds to prevent loss of vehicle control, collisions and slide-offs.
Currently in northern Arizona DPS Officers are investigating over 20 collisions and assisting with over 50 slide-offs where motorists have lost control of their vehicles due to traveling too fast on slippery road surfaces. The vehicles involved are a combination of commercial and standard size passenger vehicles. It is unknown how many injured or the total number of vehicles involved in the various collisions.
The National Weather Service is advising more snow expecting for the region by this evening. A winter storm warning remains in effect until 9 a.m. tomorrow. Moderate to occasionally heavy snowfall will continue through this evening. Snowfall should end by mid-morning tomorrow.
Seven to 11 inches of snow is expected at elevations from 5,000 to 6,000 feet. Ten to 20 inches is expected in regions located above 6,500 feet. Southwesterly winds of 15-20 mph with gusts to 25 mph are projected for this evening. Winds will decrease tomorrow morning. Travel conditions will be hazardous due to moderate snow accumulations and blowing snow.
For the latest road conditions and/or closures call the ADOT freeway management
System at 1-888-411-7623 or visit their Web site at az511.com. Additional weather information is on the web at weather.gov.flagstaff.
Reader Comments
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Flag Commuter
Just Great. They closed the dang road before 5:00 p.m. So, those of us that have to commute are stuck here in Flag.
I've got a proposal for ADOT. How about they cut some of the fat from the Pencil Pusher division and keep the snow plows operating with the money saved? Or will that not be done because it won't cause as much pain to the tax-paying public?
