Williams

Delay travel for safety and possible road and highway closures

Roads in the Kaibab National Forest are snowy, slushy, icy and, in some areas, completely impassable. Although most remain open, forest roads are not maintained for winter travel. The Forest Service is urging visitors to plan ahead, use good judgement, and exercise caution. 

Even a few inches of snow can obscure icy roads and soft shoulders where vehicles can become stuck. Snow drifts may be much deeper than they appear. Mud can also be deeper than expected and is just as likely to cause a vehicle to become stuck.

As part of continuing efforts to reduce hazardous fuels and prevent catastrophic wildfires, Kaibab National Forest firefighters are planning to conduct pile burns on about 700 acres near Williams on Friday. These piles are located near Clover Road and along I-40, and weather conditions are expected to result in some smoke impacts on the highway and in town.

Fire officials on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are currently suppressing the Burro Fire. The Burro Fire, discovered on October 9th, was caused by lightning and has grown to approximately 7 acres. The fire is located approximately seven miles south of Williams near Forest Road 42 near Jackass Knoll, approximately 0.5 miles north of the Bill Williams Loop Road/Forest Road 108.

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.