Courtesy photo.
COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino County Public Works Department, in conjunction with Yavapai County, closed Stoneman Lake Road between I-17 and Lake Mary Road on noon, March 14 due to a multi-day winter storm that is forecast to impact the region starting tonight.
This closure is necessary for public safety due to the possibility of whiteout conditions from drifting heavy snow. When drifting occurs, visibility becomes limited and there is an increased difficulty for County snowplow operators to keep the road clear of snow. Stoneman Lake Road will remain closed until weather conditions allow for the County to safely reopen it.
A Winter Weather Advisory from the National Weather Service (NWS) will be in effect through 5:00 p.m. MST Friday, March 15 with periods of occasionally heavy snow between tonight and tomorrow. Snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches above 6000 feet, with up to 12 inches above 7500 feet, are expected during this storm.
According to the NWS, travel during this winter storm could be very difficult to impossible at times as periods of patchy, blowing snow could significantly obscure visibility.
For questions about snow removal operations and related road conditions, please contact the following:
- Coconino County: For County maintained roads, please call Public Works at 928-679- 8300 during normal business hours (7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.).
- Follow Coconino County on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CoconinoCounty and Twitter at www.twitter.com/CoconinoCounty for updates on road and weather conditions as they become available.
- City of Flagstaff Public Works: Please call 928-213-2100 during normal business hours.
- Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT): For highway road conditions, please call 5-1-1 or visit ADOT’s online Traffic Operations Center at www.az511.gov.
- National Weather Service (NWS): For weather information about winter storms, please visit the NWS web page at www.weather.gov/flagstaff.
- Emergencies: To report snow-related road emergencies, please call 9-1-1.
As a reminder, the County’s winter parking ordinance Winter Parking Ordinance 2022-06, always prohibits parking along County maintained rights-of-way between November 1 and April 1 and allows for the civil enforcement of parking restrictions either by citation (not less than $200 fine) or towing.
Be prepared at home and always have on hand:
- Working carbon monoxide detectors (with battery backups) in all sleeping and common areas
- Three days of non-perishable food and water (one gallon per day per family member)
- First aid kit and extra supply of medication
- Personal hygiene supplies, extra clothing, footwear, gloves, blankets, sleeping bags
- Extra food for pets and livestock
- Flashlight, extra batteries, candles and a battery-operated radio
- Alternate heat source (kerosene, wood, etc.)
- Full propane tank (if applicable)
- Extra set of car keys, cash, credit cards
- Snow shovels
- An emergency plan for the entire family
Vehicle preparedness tips:
- Winterize your vehicle (antifreeze, wipers, battery, snow tires)
- Carry an emergency kit consisting of tire chains or cables, blankets, tow strap, jumper cables, flashlight, water, first aid kit, ice scraper, extra clothing, and appropriate tools
- Keep the gas tank at least half full
- When traveling, let someone know your intended route and expected time of arrival
- Allow extra time for travel and drive accordingly
- Extra blanket and food
- Cell phone and charger