High country residents in Arizona to get break from snow through early next week

Sydney Carruth, Arizona Republic
·6 min read

A windy weekend followed by sunny skies and dry weather conditions through early next week will give residents of the high country a break from the snow after this past week's winter storm.

The National Weather Service in Flagstaff has issued a wind advisory between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday for counties in the high country, especially those along the north and east of the Mogollon Rim, including the Coconino and Kaibab plateaus.

"While the wind isn't going to be great, the dry and mainly sunny weather will be welcomed by those of us who could stand to see some of that snow melt," said the National Weather Service in Flagstaff in a recent tweet.

Winds will be around 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 to 55 mph through the afternoon before winds start to drop off into the evening hours, the weather service said in a forecast discussion.

Some high elevation areas will see winds linger later into the evening before fully dropping off, the weather service in Flagstaff said. Winds in counties to the south and east of the Mogollon Rim are expected to be lighter, with speeds between 10 and 20 mph and gusts around 30 to 35 mph.

The weather service said this weekend's strong winds and dry weather could help to dry out some muddy roads across the high country.

Sunday will be partly cloudy with mountain highs in the 40s and valley highs in the 50s to 60s. Monday will see a partly cloudy sky and the remainder of the gusty winds between 30 and 40 mph as they move through the state, though the gusts will die down by the evening.

Mountain highs will be in the 40s starting Monday through Wednesday next week, with valley highs between the 50s and 60s across the region. Tuesday and Wednesday will be partly cloudy, but sunny skies will peak through into the middle of next week.

"We expect conditions to remain dry with a gradual warming trend, even though it will still feel cool outside," the weather service in Flagstaff said.

Another winter storm is expected to impact high elevation areas starting Wednesday night, lasting through Friday morning of next week, though it will take a few more days to determine how strong it will be.

"It could be another big winter storm or just another passing through that clips northern Arizona," the weather service said.

One for the books:Winter storms break snow records in northern Arizona

Officials encourage checking for roof security

While residents in the high country can enjoy a reprieve from the snow, the record levels of snow accumulation throughout the winter season have caused several roofs to collapse within the Flagstaff area recently, according to a tweet from Coconino County.

Officials with Coconino County are encouraging residents to check structures for the following signs of damage or stress:

  • Sagging ceiling tiles or boards, ceiling boards falling out of the ceiling grid, or sagging sprinkler lines and sprinkler heads.

  • Sprinkler heads deflecting below suspended ceilings.

  • Popping, cracking and creaking noises.

  • Sagging roof members, including metal decking or plywood sheathing.

  • Bowing truss bottom chords or web members.

  • Doors or windows that can no longer be opened or closed.

  • Cracked split wood members.

  • Cracks in walls or masonry.

  • Severe roof leaks.

  • Excessive accumulation of water at nondrainage locations on low slope roofs.

The weather service in Flagstaff said this winter has been one for the books with record levels of snowfall through March 1, according to the latest season totals. The 2022-2023 winter season ranked second, behind the 1948-1949 season, for the total inches of snowfall at the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, at 140.1 inches.

The number of consecutive days with snow depth of 10 inches or more at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is 47 as of March 2, the weather service said. The 47-day streak is the fourth longest stretch recorded since the observations started in 1949.

In light of the significant snow accumulation in the high country, the Arizona Department of Transportation warned weekend travelers to not pull over and park on the road shoulders to play in the snow.

The weather service will continue to update season snow totals as more data become available.

Tranquil, warm weather expected for the Valley

Dry and tranquil weather conditions are on tap for the Valley as temperatures warm into the 70s across the lower desert regions starting Sunday through early next week.

Afternoon temperatures will stay in the upper 60s to lower 70s for areas across the lower desert regions throughout early next week, according to the National Weather Service in Phoenix.

The warming trend comes on the heels of unseasonably low temperatures in the Valley this past week, with Saturday's low temperature recorded at 45 degrees at Sky Harbor International Airport, 7 degrees below the seasonal average.

Gusty winds between 25 mph and 30 mph are expected across southwest Imperial County in California and could impact travel along Interstate 8, according to the weather service. The winds will come as the result of enhanced breezes throughout southeast California on Sunday, but are not expected to last in the deserts of Arizona past Monday.

The weather service in Phoenix recommends residents take the following precautions to prepare for gusty winds:

  • Secure loose outdoor items.

  • Make sure temporary outdoor structures like tents and trampolines are securely tied down.

  • Watch for patchy blowing dust that could create difficult driving conditions.

Sunday will bring partly cloudy skies and temperature highs a few degrees below the seasonal average across the following Valley regions before temperatures warm early next week :

  • Scottsdale: 70 degrees

  • Phoenix: 67 degrees

  • Deer Valley: 65 degrees

  • Mesa: 67 degrees

  • Glendale: 66 degrees

  • Goodyear: 67 degrees

  • Gila Bend: 71 degrees

  • Yuma: 73 degrees

  • El Centro: 72 degrees

Sunday will be partly cloudy with a high of 71 and a low of 47 in Phoenix. Monday will see a slight drop in temperature highs but an increase in temperature lows, with mostly cloudy skies and a high of 69 with a low of 50.

Tuesday will be partly cloudy and warmer with a high of 71 and a low of 49. Wednesday will follow suit with a high of 72, partly cloudy skies and a low of 48.

There is potential for gusty winds and precipitation across the Valley and lower southwest desert regions late next week, though the full potential for rainfall is still under discussion. The weather service anticipates a potential for cooler temperatures along with breezier conditions and perhaps some rain chances through the end of next week.

Temperatures to warm to seasonal average next week in Tucson

Tucson and the southwest desert regions can expect dry weather conditions and light winds with a temperature warm-up over the weekend that will last through Wednesday of next week.

Temperatures will be right around average for early March with light afternoon breezes expected through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Tucson.

"We will have some high clouds to contend with from time to time but hopefully we will get a colorful sunset/sunrise or two out of it," said the weather service in a forecast discussion.

Thursday and Friday next week will bring wind, cooler temperatures and possible rain showers as a winter weather system moves over the Southwest, though the weather service in Tucson said there is still room for development as the latter half of the week draws closer.

The end of the week has potential to bring snow to mountains surrounding Tucson, though there is still some uncertainty.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: High country residents in Arizona to get break from snow