• Windy conditions today and Friday. Local gusts in excess of 50 mph downwind of prominent terrain features possible tonight and Friday.
• Sharply colder with snow levels dropping to around 4500 feet on Saturday. Heaviest snowfall 5:00 pm Friday through Noon Saturday. Accumulations of 1 to 4 inches above 5000 feet. Trace amounts possible as low as 4500 feet.
• An even colder system heading for northern Arizona early next week. Expect an extended period of below normal temperatures with overnight low temperatures in the single digits to teens. Some snow accumulation is possible Monday and Tuesday, more as the system draws near.
Key Points
Greatest Impacts:
 Windy conditions today through Friday. Local wind gust to 50 mph tonight and on Friday, especially Flagstaff eastward.
 Snow accumulation of 1 to 4 inches above the 5000 foot level trace amounts possible as low as 4500 feet on Saturday. Heaviest snow from 5:00 pm Friday through Noon Saturday.
 Sharply colder. High temperatures 30 to 40 degrees across the area.
 A much colder system early next week with low temperatures in the single digits to teens. Time to take those preventative measures on exposed pipes, livestock, plants, etc. in preparation for a streak of very cold weather.

12/9/15 – Southwest winds will strengthen on Thursday as a cold front and upper level low pressure system approach the area from the northwest. Wind speeds will range from 15 to 25 MPH with gusts from 30-40 MPH.

By Friday a strong cold front will move into Arizona with sharply colder temperatures in the 30’s and 40’s for daytime highs and areas of rain and snow showers with snow levels dropping between 4000 to 5000 feet. Some accumulating snow can be expected from 1 to 3 inches above 5500 feet with higher amounts on the San Francisco Peaks and the White mountains in Southern Apache County. Cold temperatures and showers will persist Saturday before a drying trend on Sunday. Another cold and unsettled system is forecast next Monday and Tuesday. Come back for more updates as we receive them.

Lakeside, AZ –December 4, 2015; —The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Lakeside Ranger District will be conducting a 2,700 acre prescribed burn December 7 through December 11 within the McCleave unit of the Rodeo-Chediski fire area.

The McCleave Unit is about one mile south of Pinedale Estates, which is two miles south of Pinedale on Forest Service Road 130. The prescribed fire block is surrounded by Forest Service Roads (130, 263, and 300). The legal description is: T10N, R19E, Sections 25, 26, 35, 36 and T10N, R20E Sections 29, 30, 31, and 32.

Ignition may last several days, with daily smoke impact anticipated within area drainages. Smoke will be visible in the local area, from Arizona State Highway 260, in Overgaard and Show Low.
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. This prescribed fire is in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Habitat Partnership Committee. Objectives of this project are to maintain and protect ponderosa pine stands while providing browse for wildlife.

Crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries.

Questions or concerns contact the Lakeside Ranger District at (928) 368-2100 or by calling 311 or 928-333-3412. Also, check out the ASNFs website at: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf or join the conversation on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs/