WILLIAMS – The monsoons appear to be building up strength, again, according to the long range weather forecast. The outlook for both Flagstaff and Williams are virtually the same.
Tomorrow the chance for precipitation and lightning is 50% rising to 60% on Monday. The chance drops back to 50% Monday night and Tuesday. Winds will be nominal about 3- to 8-mph throughout the same period.
The weather service warns of moderate to heavy rainfall.
The Arizona Department of Transportation will close one lane of State Route 89A through the switchbacks at milepost 389 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, July 14, to complete repairs to roadway damage caused by recent weather events.
Traffic delays may occur during construction with traffic reduced to one lane. There will be directional signage and flaggers present during construction. ADOT advises motorists to be alert for construction equipment and personnel, and to proceed through the work zone with caution.
PHOENIX – The planned early opening of one of the ramps that will soon connect Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in the West Valley will not take place this weekend, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
ADOT has decided to postpone opening the eastbound I-10 ramp to northbound Loop 303 until overhead lighting is in place for all four of the ramps that will connect the two freeways.
Plans had called for crews to open the eastbound I-10 ramp to northbound Loop 303 ahead of schedule to reduce the amount of traffic using the construction detour route along McDowell Road and Cotton Lane.
The new ramp and three others at the I-10/Loop 303 interchange will instead open on schedule in September.
Work on the $145 million interchange connecting I-10 and Loop 303 began in November 2011.
WILLIAMS – The Independence day celebration in Williams was filled with activity. The weekly Kiwanis swap meet opened on Friday. The Williams Aquatic Center held a free swim and there was a community event and prayer on Saturday.
Williams was prevented from conducting a fireworks display again, but there was lightning and rain.
The parade this year was held in the evening and was larger than normal. If you missed it, here it is:
FLAGSTAFF – Due to significant and widespread rain and rapidly decreasing fire danger, the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in northern Arizona will lift all fire restrictions at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8.
Managers typically lift fire restrictions when at least a half inch of precipitation has been received over more than two-thirds of the forests. To date, many areas of both forests have received double that amount of precipitation, with an inch or more of rain being reported in many locations. Fire danger has decreased dramatically from “extreme” last week to “moderate” today.
Besides lifting all fire restrictions, the Kaibab National Forest will also reopen the Bill Williams Mountain Watershed on the Williams Ranger District tomorrow morning, which had been closed to public entry due to wildfire risk. The Coconino National Forest is evaluating conditions in Fossil Creek and will make a determination later this week about the appropriate time to reopen the area.
“With the onset of the monsoon season, the low number of human-caused fire starts, and the availability of many firefighting resources, we are comfortable that it is the appropriate time to lift fire restrictions,” said Holly Kleindienst, deputy fire staff officer for the Kaibab National Forest. “Fire restrictions were extremely effective this year in reducing the number of fires caused by people. We are thankful to our visitors for their help in preventing fires by complying with the restrictions that were in effect.”
The two forests initially implemented campfire and smoking restrictions on April 18. This was relatively early but was necessary due to a dry winter and impacts of long-term drought on the forests. Additional fire restrictions and area closures were implemented as the forests faced increasing levels of fire danger through the spring and summer.
While all fire restrictions will be lifted as of tomorrow, forest visitors are always expected to use caution with campfires and other potential ignition sources. For information on preventing human-caused fires.