1/29/16 – Sunday and Monday a cold Pacific storm will move across northern Arizona with widespread rain and snow expected. Winter driving conditions are likely in the mountains starting on Sunday, extending to much lower elevations late Sunday night and Monday as colder air moves in.
Strong winds late Sunday into early Monday could create areas of blowing and drifting snow with near whiteout conditions at times creating extremely hazardous travel.
Preliminary snowfall estimates through Monday evening range from 8 to 16 inches above 6500 feet with the higher amounts along the southwest facing edge of the Mogollon Rim, Kaibab Plateau and White Mountains. Snowfall amounts will be 2 to 8 inches in the 5000 to 6500 feet range with amounts of a trace to 2 inches possible down to 3500 feet. Please check back often as there is still uncertainty in the forecast and these initial estimates may change over the coming days.