Coconino County

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is warning backcountry mountain travelers to be  alert for potential avalanche and other winter hazards on the San Francisco Peaks. Due to the recent heavy snowfall dangerous avalanche conditions may exist and may remain potentially hazardous for long periods. It is important for backcountry travelers to be aware that no avalanche control is conductedin the backcountry outside of the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Area boundary. Additionally, there is no regular patrol of the  backcountry.

Delay travel for safety and possible road and highway closures

Coconino County Public Works crews are prepared to keep County roads open and passable during the first snowstorm of the 2022-2023 winter season, which is forecast to hit Northern Arizona this week.

According to the National Weather Service, rain and snow showers are expected across northern Arizona starting Wednesday night and lasting into Friday, with the heaviest expected Thursday morning/afternoon. Minor accumulations are expected down to about 5000 feet with around 4 to 6 inches expected above 6500 feet.

On the afternoon of Monday, October 3, 2022, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) as well as the County Emergency Management Department (CCEM) began to receive reports of indications that a possible tornado had touched down in the Junipine Estates neighborhood ten miles north of Williams, Ariz. Later in the afternoon the weather event was confirmed by the National Weather Service in Flagstaff as an EF-1 Tornado, with sustained winds between 86 – 110 m.p.h.

Today, October 3, 2022 at 1:30 p.m., Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) received a report of a weather-related event in the Junipine Estates community north of Williams, Ariz. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed a tornado touched down and passed through the Junipine community, causing damage to between eight to ten residences.

A temporary shelter has been established by the American Red Cross at 636 South 7th Street in Williams. Animal shelter information is forthcoming.

The Forest Service is reviewing several Coconino County proposals designed to reduce post-fire flood impact in the Flagstaff area.

The proposals seek to minimize private land damage and protect watershed resources and will target areas within or directly adjacent to the 2022 Tunnel and Pipeline burn scars.

Some of these areas, adjacent to both private land and City of Flagstaff land, were previously analyzed and approved for post-fire flood structures after the 2010 Schultz Fire.

Members of the public wishing to learn more about private flood insurance and FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, as well as other post-wildfire flooding resources, are invited to a free online webinar on Monday, August 22, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.

Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS), in partnership with state and federal partners, is responding to the recent increase in monkeypox illness in the United States. Although no cases have been identified in Coconino County, 102 monkeypox cases have been reported in Arizona as of August 5, 2022, and more than 7,000 cases have been identified in 49 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC).

Fire behavior

Fire behavior

An increased chance of monsoonal moisture will occur in the fire area today and last into next week, bringing an increase in cloud cover and relative humidity.

Showers and thunderstorms with the potential to produce flash flooding and debris flows off the Pipeline Fire scar, as well as the Tunnel and Museum fire scars, may occur. Higher relative humidity will minimize fire behavior. Heat and smoke will still be present within the fire perimeter as interior pockets continue to burn unconsumed fuels.

Pipeline Fire