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Storm Photos: Hail, Record Snow and a Real Mess on I-17

Robert Roy Britt
The North Phoenix weather forecast from the National Weather Service as of 8 a.m. Friday.

FRIDAY UPDATE: Snow Falls in North Phoenix Amid Record Rain

From dime-sized hail in the North Valley to an all-time record day of snow in Flagstaff, this was a storm to tell the grandkids about. By 7 p.m., from 1/2 inch to nearly  1 inch of rain had fallen in gauges from New River through Anthem, Tramonto and Sonoran Foothills down to Norterra. In roughly reverse-chronological order, here’s what Mother Nature delivered:

AFTERNOON UPDATE: “Northbound Interstate 17 is closed at State Route 179, about 12 miles north of Camp Verde, due to a winter storm that has created unsafe driving conditions,” ADOT announced at around 3 p.m. “There is no estimated time to reopen the northbound lanes. While the southbound lanes remains open, ADOT is strongly encouraging drivers not to travel during the winter storm.” (See more road-closure info at the bottom of this article.)

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EARLIER: As rain and hail pounded the Valley of the Supposed Sun this morning, snow fell in Cave Creek and Carefree and brought travel in the high country to a standstill in some spots. Snow was falling at a rate of 3-4 inches per hour along I-17 near Munds Park, the National Weather Service said at about 9 a.m., and more than a foot had fallen in the Flagstaff area already earlier in the morning. ADOT advised travelers to avoid heading up I-17. “Chains or 4×4 vehicles are recommended north of the Sedona turnoff,” the agency said.

A strong hail storm moved through Tramonto and Anthem at around 1 p.m. Here are some images to check out from the comfort of your home or office:

“Our crews have responded to 4 motor vehicle accidents on I-17 in the last hour,” Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical said just before 3 p.m., adding: “Please slow down in these cold rainy/icy conditions.”

DMFM responded to a crash on I-17 southbound at New River Road earlier today. No one was injured. Photo: DMFM

 

The low at Sky Harbor Airport this morning was 44 degrees. By 11 a.m. it had climbed to 49 degrees. The record high for this day was 86 degrees, set three years ago.

  • What the Heck Was That?! Hail vs. Snow
ROAD CLOSURE UPDATE 4:45 p.m., via ADOT:
  • I-17 northbound at State Route 179, milepost 298
  • I-40 eastbound at State Route 95, with traffic detouring south on SR 95
  • Both directions of State Route 87 between State Route 188 and Payson, mileposts 238-250, and between Payson and Winslow, mileposts 254-337
  • Both directions State Route 260 between Star Valley and Heber-Overgaard, mileposts 256-302, and eastbound State Route 260 east of milepost 228 near Interstate 17
  • Both directions of SR 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff, mileposts 375-398

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Robert Roy Britt
NoPho resident Robert Roy Britt has written for In&Out publications since its inception in 2005. Britt began his journalism career in New Jersey newspapers in the early 1990s. He later became a science writer and was editor-in-chief of the online media sites Space.com and Live Science. He has written four novels. .

Robert Roy Britt

NoPho resident Robert Roy Britt has written for In&Out publications since its inception in 2005. Britt began his journalism career in New Jersey newspapers in the early 1990s. He later became a science writer and was editor-in-chief of the online media sites Space.com and Live Science. He has written four novels. .

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