With merciless temperatures forecast over the coming days, be sure you and your vehicle are prepared before traveling on highways in the Arizona desert.
Motorists should always be ready for the possibility of becoming stranded, but that need is even more critical in extreme heat.
Be a safe driver during Arizona's summer travel season. Check your vehicle, including tire pressure, ahead of your trip. Be patient, obey speed limits, buckle up and never drive while impaired. Arrange for a designated driver or ride service. Be prepared for unscheduled closures or delays by packing extra water, snack foods and a kit with other emergency supplies, including a flashlight, prescription medications and fully charged cell phone.
The Woodbury Fire has closed portions of state routes 88 and 188 near Roosevelt Lake, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. SR 88 is closed from milepost 213 at Tortilla Flat to SR 188 at Roosevelt. Also, SR 188 is closed from SR 88 just west of Roosevelt at milepost 244 to SR 288.
There is no estimated time to reopen either highway.
While there’s plenty of snow in the high country thanks to this week’s powerful storm, drivers should resist the temptation to park along state highways to play in it, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Arizona Department of Transportation.
Highway shoulders are for emergencies only. By law, you must exit highways and park in designated areas beyond the highway right of way before building that snowman.
Multiple stretches of Arizona’s highways were closed as of Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 21, due to a powerful winter storm whose fury continues across much of the state.
With the heavy weather expected to last into Friday and snow forecast to extend into southeastern Arizona overnight, the safest option remains delaying travel to and through higher elevations until the Arizona Department of Transportation’s plows have cleared highways of snow and ice. Motorists in lower elevations may see some snow along with considerable rainfall.
With a long weekend at hand and snow in the forecast, those heading to Arizona’s high country should leave prepared for extended time in winter weather and for the possibility of delays around popular snow-play areas such as US 180 northwest of Flagstaff.
The combination of a winter holiday weekend and recent snow can be a magnet for those looking to ski, sled or toss a few snowballs.
If you’re heading to play in the snow, be ready for the possibility that you’ll see heavy traffic and delays, especially on the trip home, in popular areas such as US 180 northwest of Flagstaff.
Snow or ice has been reported on at least two Arizona roadways, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
State Route 389 has snow or ice from mileposts 0 to 32. This is from the Utah state line at Colorado City to past Kaibab, Arizona. State Route 264 has snow on the pavement from mileposts 430 to 445. This is near Steamboat Canyon in eastern Arizona.
ADOT recommends drivers be prepared to slow down or stop in these conditions.
Coordinating efforts with tribal governments and federal partners, the Arizona Department of Transportation is working to reopen a section of US 89 severed by flooding about 60 miles north of Flagstaff between State Route 64 at Cameron and US 160.
With the remnants of Hurricane Rosa bringing a rainy forecast to Arizona this week, motorists should slow down, avoid tailgating and sudden braking, and expect the unexpected.
The Arizona Department of Transportation has safety tips available at azdot.gov/safety (follow the Weather link). Among them:
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