Rain, snow and strong winds sweep across Arizona

A winter storm is hitting Arizona!

Winds are increasing, rain and snow are falling, and temperatures are dropping across the state.

Here in the valley there is a slight chance of a few light, patchy showers overnight into Wednesday morning. Some areas may see up to a tenth of an inch of rain.

The wind is also getting stronger. Remote areas of the valley, such as Deer Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Fountain Hills, Apache Junction and even Queen Creek, are under pressure Wind advisories until Wednesday, 2 p.m. Watch for peak gusts of around 45 mph.

In the north, strong winds cause blowing snow and poor visibility. Travel is not recommended Tuesday night through early Wednesday morning as snow levels gradually drop to around 3,500 feet.

Flagstaff could see 1 to 3 inches of snow, with 15 to 20 inches possible over the San Francisco Peaks. Along the Mogollon Rim, we expect perhaps an inch or so by Wednesday afternoon in places like Heber, Show Low and Pinetop.

Snow showers will spread across southeastern Arizona by Wednesday afternoon. The highest peaks there could reach up to 15 to 20 centimeters of it.

In the west, wind matters more than rain or snow.

A Strong wind warning in effect for the Colorado River Valley through Wednesday afternoon. Gusts can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour! This will make traveling through Western Arizona difficult, especially in high-profile vehicles.

Wind advisories also apply to parts of western and southeastern Arizona. Expect gusts up to 50 mph on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Winds will ease by Thursday as the cold air from this storm subsides.

In the Valley, daily highs will fall to the mid-60s by the end of the week. Morning lows will fall into the lower 40s by Thursday morning, with areas in the mid to upper 30s.

Even colder temperatures are expected for areas south and east of the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Freeze clocks will be in effect Wednesday night through Thursday morning and again Thursday night through Friday morning for central and southeastern Arizona. These include areas such as Eloy and Arizona City in Pinal County, Globe and Superior in Gila County, and the Aguila Valley in Maricopa County.

Be sure to cover any exposed pipes and protect sensitive plants before freezing temperatures arrive.