A strong cold front moved through the state overnight, driven by winds and heavy rain that has prompted two tornado warnings, flash flood warnings as snow are moving into Arizona on Black Friday.
See below for the list of tornado, wind, and flood warnings, as well as a list of snow precautions and highway closures.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued two tornado warnings in the metro Phoenix areas, including Apache Junction, Phoenix and Scottsdale.
However, the threat of very strong straight-line winds will remain.
Wind gusts are expected up to 50 miles per hour, with gusts at 52 mph recorded in sky Harbor. Strong winds are expected to persist until late afternoon. Use caution with driving, especially with high-profile vehicles.
The NWS issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for the greater Metro Phoenix area and Maricopa County from Phoenix North to Deer Valley, west to Surprise, Peoria, Glendale, Avondale and Goodyear, as well as New River, Cave Creek and Carefree; East to fountain Hills, south to Mesa, Tempe, Maricopa and Casa Grande.
Black Friday shoppers are urged to use caution with travel.
Further south, in Tucson and east to Cochise County, damaging winds with gusts up to 60 miles per hour pose a threat, along with heavy rain which brings the threat of flash flooding. Snow level is expected to drop to 4800 feet bringing 1-3 feet of snow to the mountains. Temperatures in Tucson are expected to make it out of the 50s.
The winter storm started late Thursday night and will continue until midnight on Friday for elevations above 4,500 feet. Heavy snowfall is expected and wind conditions will create blowing snow which could hamper visibility.
Flagstaff is anticipated to accumulate between 17-23 inches during the storms and higher accumulation in the mountains. Prescott and Payson could see between 4-8 inches of snow.
Winter weather conditions have caused the Arizona Department of Transportation to close several highways until the storms pass, including Interstate 40 from U.S. 93 to Winslow (both directions); Interstate 17 at State Route 179 junction (both directions);State Route 87 from Payson to Winslow (both directions); and State Route 260 from Camp Verde to State Route 87 (both directions).
