Plows clear highways after snow slickens Arizona’s high country

Snow plows were clearing highways in high country in northern and eastern Arizona on Tuesday.

The Arizona Department of Transportation warned motorists to watch for plows and slick and icy roads. The snow and rain continued through Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service said.

Snowplow operations were in effect on Interstate 40 and Interstate 17 in Flagstaff, the Arizona DOT said. Flocked trees and slick roads also were reported on State Route 87 in Clints Well, transportation officials tweeted.

Snow also fell in Show Low and on State Route 260 in Heber and State Route 264 in Window Rock.

A dusting of snow fell at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the Arizona DOT said. State Route 64 was wet, but the snow is not sticking, transportation officials tweeted.

A winter-weather advisory expired at noon Tuesday. The advisory meant that periods of snow would cause travel difficulties, according to the Weather Service.

Both high and low temperatures for the Flagstaff area were in the 30s on Tuesday.

An upper low over southern Arizona interacted with a cold (and initially dry) low-level air mass from the northeast, according to a Weather Service forecast for Flagstaff.

“Moisture is flowing northwestward over the cold air, with additional cooling from evaporative effects causing lowering snow levels,” the forecast said.

The Weather Service predicted general snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches in east Flagstaff and 2 to 4 inches in Forest Lakes.

According to the Weather Service, some areas could see as much as 8 inches of snow.