12/28/16 – The National Weather Service out of Flagstaff has forecast another round of unsettled weather in northeastern Arizona for the New Years’ weekend. Beginning Friday and into Saturday, light to moderate precipitation amounts are predicted. Snow levels should remain above 7500 feet through Friday evening, then fall to 6500-7500 feet late Friday night into Saturday. Some light snow accumulation will be possible above around 6500 feet, with a few inches possible above 8000 feet.

A second colder disturbance will arrive Saturday night into Sunday. There is still uncertainty with precipitation amounts, but light snow accumulation is possible above 6000-6500 feet. Localized heavier amounts will be possible, mainly along and south of the Mogollon Rim. Monday through Wednesday, cold conditions with a chance of higher elevation snow showers continuing. People planning travel through northern Arizona’s high country from late this week into early next week should be prepared for winter driving conditions at times. Check back for updates.

12/22/16 – The National Weather Service is calling for continued showers today, with precipitation tapering off on Friday.
We only get a brief break from the storm though as a second weather system will bring rain and snow to northern Region on Saturday and Sunday.
This looks to be a high impact event with high winds and snow up to 12 inches in certain areas!
Expect Christmas weekend to feature hazardous winter weather conditions!

December 15, 2016; —The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Alpine Ranger District will be burning slash piles on December 15. The legal description is T3N, R29E, Section 10.  Scattered piles will be burned across roughly 50 acres of forest land. Ignition is planned for one day only and smoke impact is anticipated along Forest Road 8312. In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the pile burn as smoke may reduce visibility in the area.

Prescribed burning provides many benefits and is essential to maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. It provides habitat diversity, recycles plant nutrients into the soil and encourages new growth for a variety of plants used by wildlife and livestock.  Prescribed burning of forest ground fuels also reduces the threat of large scale wildfire impacts to private lands. Crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries. Prescribed fire operations are subject to cancelation due to unfavorable weather conditions.

For questions or concerns please contact the Alpine Ranger District at (928) 339-5000. Also, check out our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs/ or check out Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5062/.