WEATHER

It's snowing in Arizona: Here's where, and everything you need to know about it

The Republic | azcentral.com

John Sirlin shared this photo of snow falling north of Phoenix on Dec. 31, 2018.

Yes, it snows in Arizona.

And on New Year's Eve, it started snowing again. Snowing enough to close roads, make cars slide and surprise everybody, even the people who were watching the forecast. This desert state in recent years has seen more drought than downpour.

But now it's snowing. Here's where.

Flagstaff

It snowed in Flagstaff, of course, Arizona's sort of home-is-where-the-heart-is wintertime home. Though climate trends hint at a change in wintertime traditions here (last year was Coconino County's warmest on record), this is still the first place Arizona looks for snow.

Sedona

Though snow is hardly unheard-of in Sedona, the place is more famous for its red rocks. New Year's Eve caught some drivers off-guard, leading to traffic snarls but white hillsides.

Wickenburg

A dusting of snow reached the desert in Wickenburg.

Scottsdale

Now we're getting into surprising territory. Though it's a rarity, snow can fall on Scottsdale's higher elevations, as it did at Desert Mountain golf course.

Tucson

Well, above Tucson. On Mount Lemmon, the National Weather Service expects more than a foot of snow.

So what should you know about the snow?

Be careful on the road.

Or maybe better, don't drive at all, if you don't absolutely have to.

Plenty of roads have been closed because of snow at points during the day, including State Route 169, State Route 260 in Star Valley and Mount Lemmon Road. Elsewhere, conditions have been slippery.

ADOT also has advice for driving when snowplows are working on the roads, including:

Slow down and give extra room to an oncoming plow.
Leave space behind a snowplow in case the driver needs to back up.
Even after a plow has been through, don't assume the road is clear of ice.

Phoenix Arizona Weather -- 7-day forecast, radar maps