Arizona residents are set to enjoy warmer temperatures this weekend after enduring a series of winter storms that brought heavy rain, snow, and severe weather to the state. The Phoenix and Flagstaff regions will begin to warm up, providing some much-needed relief after the heavy weather conditions that caused significant disruptions.
Winter Storms Cause Chaos
The winter storms had their final major impacts late Friday night and early Saturday morning, causing widespread damage. The storms led to multiple road closures and deadly crashes across Arizona. One of the most tragic incidents involved two consecutive days of fatal accidents on Interstate 40. Shocking footage shared by the Arizona Department of Public Safety showed a devastating pileup near Williams on Thursday, where more than a dozen vehicles were involved in a crash along the snowy highway. The images captured the aftermath of the crash, highlighting the severity of the winter weather.
Will There Be Any Rain or Snow This Weekend?
As the storm system moves out of Arizona, the weather is expected to improve, bringing sunshine and warmer temperatures to the state. For those traveling or planning outdoor activities, the weekend forecast looks promising.
The Phoenix area is expected to enjoy mostly sunny skies and dry conditions over the weekend. The National Weather Service predicts that temperatures in the Phoenix area will be in the upper 60s to low 70s on Saturday and will rise into the low 70s by Sunday. The cooler nights are expected to dip into the 40s on Saturday night, with a slight rise in temperatures on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Flagstaff will start Saturday with mostly cloudy skies and a small chance (20%) of snow showers, though little accumulation is expected. Temperatures in Flagstaff are forecast to reach about 40 degrees on Saturday. As the day progresses, clouds are expected to clear, leaving clear skies for the rest of the weekend. On Sunday, Flagstaff will see a significant warm-up with temperatures rising to 54 degrees, a much-needed change after the heavy snow and cold weather. Overnight lows in Flagstaff will remain chilly, with temperatures ranging from the low to mid-20s.
Road Closures and Travel Disruptions
The warm-up this weekend is expected to help speed up the process of reopening some of the closed roads in northern Arizona. However, several highways remain closed as of Friday night, with no set timeline for when they will reopen.
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) listed the following highways as still closed due to weather-related conditions:
- Interstate 40 Eastbound near Kingman and Ash Fork (mileposts 71 and 146)
- Interstate 40 Westbound in Winslow (milepost 252)
- Interstate 17 Northbound at State Route 179 (milepost 299)
- State Route 89A in both directions between Sedona and I-17 (mileposts 375-394)
- State Route 87 Southbound near Winslow (milepost 338)
- State Route 260 between Camp Verde and State Route 87 junction (mileposts 228-251)
Travelers are advised to check the Arizona Department of Transportation’s website or their social media accounts for real-time updates on road closures and conditions. Updates can also be found on az511.gov.
Looking Ahead: A Calm Weekend for Arizona
While Arizona is expected to see some lingering road closures, the weekend’s warm-up should bring a much-needed break from the severe weather. With clear skies expected in most parts of the state, Arizona residents can look forward to a calm weekend, though caution is still advised for those traveling in areas with ongoing road closures.
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