Rain and snow hit:
The first major storm of the season soaks the Phoenix area Tuesday night and drops snow on Arizona’s high country, causing some traffic collisions and delaying the start of Flagstaff-area schools.
The first major rain storm of the season soaked the Phoenix area and brought snow to the high country, sparking some collisions and delaying the start of Flagstaff-area schools.
Some parts of the Valley received more than a half-inch of rain from the weather system that hit Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday.
There were no reports of major flooding or damage, besides possible debris moved by 50 mph gusts of wind.
Meanwhile, Flagstaff received 4.7 inches of snowfall. As much as 14 inches fell in areas around Arizona Snowbowl, which had been forced to make its own snow to start off the ski season.
The snowfall delayed the start of Flagstaff schools by two hours Wednesday morning and closed Interstate 40 near Williams for several hours, while heavy rain led to a fatal car accident in north-central Arizona.
I-40 reopened Wednesday morning after being closed late Tuesday by snow, and Trooper Kameron Lee of the Arizona Department of Public Safety said heavy rain apparently was a contributing factor to a five-vehicle collision that left two dead and three hurt on southbound Interstate 17 at State Route 169 Tuesday night. The DPS also reported several non-injury accidents and slide-offs in the Flagstaff area.
National Weather Service meteorologist Bianca Hernandez said the moisture wouldn’t linger.
“It looks like we will go back to our normal dry pattern,” Hernandez said.
High temperatures in the Valley are expected to top 70 degrees on Friday.