27 More Inches of Snow Expected From 10 AM (Feb. 21) Until the End of the Storm and Coconino County Open with Reduced Staffing

As of 10:00 this morning, the weather forecast calls for 27 more inches of snow by the time the storm ends. Please be safe if you need to go out on the roads and if possible, reschedule meetings and travel.

For the safety of employees and to minimize traffic on local roads, county offices will have reduced staffing levels today, February 21st due to heavy snow, gusting winds and white out conditions in the region.

Citizens who have business to conduct at County facilities are asked to call ahead to ensure the necessary staff is available to complete their business, or that any scheduled meetings will still take place.

County Public Works crews are working 24 hour days keep all county roads open and passable throughout the current snowstorm. Crews give priority to main arterial and collector roads followed by residential roads. Motorists are asked to drive for conditions and give snowplows plenty of room as they work to plow area roadways.

As a reminder, County Ordinance 86-6 prohibits motorists from parking on county roadways between Nov. 1 and April 1 on a 24-hour basis. Residents are asked to park their vehicles five to 10 feet from the roadway to allow ample room for snowplows to pass.

For an update on area road conditions visit www.facebook.com/coconinocounty or www.twitter.com/coconinocounty. The public can also call:

Be prepared and always have on hand:

Vehicle preparedness tips:

Coconino County Public Works Department has closed a seven-mile stretch of Lake Mary Road, also known as Forest Highway-3 (FH-3), at 4 p.m. on February 20 due to high winds and drifting snow from the snowstorm.

During this closure traffic will detour along the West Side Mormon Lake Road, which loops Mormon Lake and goes through Mormon Lake Village.

The closure will be in effect at the north entrance of Mormon Lake (near the scenic overlook) to the south entrance of Mormon Lake, which is about 35 miles southeast of Flagstaff. This section of Lake Mary Road will remain closed until weather conditions allow for the County to safely reopen the roadway.

The closure is due to high winds and drifting heavy snow caused by wind. When drifting occurs, visibility becomes limited and there is an increased difficulty for snowplow operators to keep the road clear of snow. To ensure the safety of drivers, they will be detoured along the alternate route through Mormon Lake Village.