Woman drowned in flash flood

PAGE – On Saturday, July 31st at 6:00 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and National Park Service (NPS) responded to Labyrinth Canyon on Lake Powell after receiving information of a possible flash flood drowning. Deputies responding to the Labyrinth Canyon area were advised that a female hiking with her family had drowned as a result of flooding in the popular slot canyon.
The Victim, Heather S. Rutledge a 43-year-old female out of Louisville, Ky was hiking the Labyrinth Canyon with her husband and 3 sons at approximately 2 pm when she and her family were caught in a flash flood that ultimately drowned Mrs. Rutledge. The husband and children were ultimately able to locate Heather and performed CPR but were unsuccessful. Family members unable to move Heather, had to make their way back to the boat they had rented and get help.

Once back at the Rental Boat they discovered it had been damaged by the flash flood and was undrivable. A boater in the area was able to tow the boat out to the mouth of Labyrinth Canyon where contact was made with an NPS Boat. NPS transported the Victims family back to Antelope Point Marina where rescuers were preparing to locate and recover Heather. Due to weather conditions, darkness, and the potential of another flash flood, recovery operations were put off until the next Morning, on Sunday August 1.

On the morning of August 1st, at 6:00 am Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies along with Rangers from NPS drove by boat, to the area in Labyrinth Canyon that the victim and her family had stopped at. Due to flood debris, rescuers could not use the kayaks to get up the rest of the canyon and had to swim through heavy canyon debris, to locate the deceased. Once located, she was removed back to the boat and transported to Wahweap Marina where the Coconino County Medical Examiner took custody of the victim and transported back to Flagstaff.

Special thanks for the invaluable assistance from the National Parks Service in this matter. Further investigation into this incident is being conducted by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. No further information is available currently.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office recommends knowing the forecast in an around the area when you are participating in recreational activities in canyon country. Flash Floods can start many miles up canyon from where you are recreating.

More information can be found at the National Weather Service at https://www.weather.gov/mob/Severe_Flood.

This, too, shall pass

For those who do not think it snows in Arizona, you may be in for a surprise when you visit northern Arizona. Do not drive like you do at home.

WILLIAMS — This storm is passing. The prediction is about 3 more inches through the day and into the early evening. Tomorrow mostly sunny and partly sunny Thursday. A high of 37 Wednesday and 45 Thursday. It is expected to be bitterly cold tonight and Wednesday night. Possibly as low as 3-degrees. Williams received 20″ of snow with Flagstaff achieving 21″.

The Winter Weather Warning from the Weather Service ended as of 2 p.m. today.

Another storm will come through Friday and Saturday, but is expected to leave less than one inch of snow.

This storm did not significantly impact the infrastructure as did the storm of November 2019. There were reports of some spotty power outages and some Internet failures. The power and phones, however, did remain active for the most part. There was a lot of trouble with slide-offs and accidents along the I-40 and I-17. And there were those who parked their vehicles in the middle of Railroad avenue and walked off.

Do not park in the middle of the road during snow removal.


The current road conditions as of this writing are:
Plan for long backups on sections of I-40 between Kingman and Flagstaff due to the weather.
The following highways are closed due to extreme winter conditions
Interstate 17 northbound is closed between SR 179 and Lake Mary Road (mileposts 299-340)
US 191 from mileposts 225 to 254 (just south of Alpine)
State Route 87 between the Bush Highway and Winslow (mileposts 236-342)
State Route 260 between Star Valley and Heber, and from east of Camp Verde to SR 87
US 60 in both directions from Globe to Show Low
State Route 89A between Sedona and Interstate 17; and from Jerome to Clarkdale
State Route 89 from north of Peeples Valley to just south of Prescott
State Route 288 westbound between SR 188 and YoungState Route 89A between Sedona and Interstate 17; and from Jerome to Clarkdale
State Route 89 from north of Peeples Valley to just south of Prescott
State Route 288 westbound between SR 188 and Young

The Coconino Amateur Radio Emergency service was active just prior to the storm through until 1 p.m. today. The Weather Service held briefings with the Emergency Operation Center and other agencies daily through the storm.

Call 511 or visit az511.gov before you go to check for current road conditions.

Major weather impact predicted through Tuesday

Northern Arizona – Travel from any point to Flagstaff will be very difficult over the next couple of days. The weather service expects white-out conditions and heavy snow starting Monday morning through to Tuesday morning. High winds and blowing snow could pose a major hazard for travelers along I-40 and especially I-17 around the areas of Kachina Village and Munds Park south of Flagstaff.

According to the weather service, snow levels will be from 4000′ – 5000′ tonight dropping to 2000′ by Tuesday. The possible levels in the area are 15-21″ in Flagstaff, 16-22 in Williams, 6-10″ in Chino Valley and 7-11″ in Seligman. Snow fall could reach 1″ an hour over Monday during the day and Monday night.

Temperatures will drop to the single-digits for the upper elevations to the lower teens for elevations below 4000′. A winter storm warning may be issued by the weather service starting Monday morning.

If you must travel during these periods, remember NOT to get right behind a snowplow on the freeways hoping to get clearer roads. The snowplow stop and change directions frequently and you could be involved in an accident. Stay clear of snow plows.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) was activated yesterday and will be monitoring tonight starting about 6 p.m. through the storm. They will be monitoring the repeaters on Bill Williams and in particular the 146.780 (-91.5) repeater and 146.980 (-162.2) repeater on Mount Elden. Should the repeaters fail, they monitor 146.980 simplex.

Northern Arizona to finally get significant snowfall through Monday

WILLIAMS — According to the National Weather Service, a storm passing through northern Arizona could bring the first significant snowfall since November of 2019. This could, unfortunately, bring traffic problems along I-40 and highway 64.

Two- to four-inches are expected over Friday night. Another six-inches could fall over Saturday night. 2- to 4-inches more could fall over Sunday. Monday through Tuesday during the day, there is about an 80% chance of snow, but levels are not predicted yet. Snow will continue Wednesday through Thursday, but the chances drop to around 20%.

Winds for the period will be moderate execpt for Friday night with gusts up to 28-mph and Monday with gusts to 25-mph.

Wet weather does not dampen voting

WILLIAMS — The drizzly weather did not seem to dampen the voting spirit in Williams as those who did not vote early went to the polls to cast their ballots. Isolated showers are expected to continue throughout the day.

Tomorrow and Thursday it is expected to be sunny with highs to the low 70s. Friday it will be breezy and cooler with snow expected over the weekend.

Today will end a particularly contentious election season. In addition Arizona will vote on whether or not to make recreational marijuana legal and to raise taxes for schools. Recreational marijuana was defeated last election and will probably be defeated this time around.

Red Flag Warning 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MST FRIDAY DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WESTERN COCONINO AND YAVAPAI COUNTIES Red Flag Warning issued June 4 at 1:42PM MST until June 5 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ The National Weather Service in Flagstaff has issued a Red Flag Warning due to strong winds and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 11 AM to 8 PM MST Friday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA…Locations near Fredonia, Grand Canyon, Jacob Lake, North Rim, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Seligman and Valle. This includes portions of the Coconino National Forest, Kaibab National Forest and Prescott National Forest. * WINDS…South 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 13 percent. * IMPACTS…The combination of strong gusty winds and low relative humidity may create critical fire weather conditions. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible, which could lead to new fire starts.

NOAA Wind Advisory Monday

WILLIAMS – The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory from noon to 7 p.m. Monday, March 23. The winds are expected to be 20- to 35-mph with gusts up to 50-mph. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. In addition, winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

I addition there is a 70% chance of rain and snow during Monday during the day with a 10% chance of rain early Monday night. Little or no snow accumulation is expected. Tuesday will be sunny with 52-degree high. Clouds will return Tuesday night through Wednesday with a chance of snow returning Thursday. It should clear up Friday night and return to sunny with temperatures around 50-degrees.

Winter Storm Watch

From Coconino County Emergency Management

In partnership with the National Weather Service WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING ABOVE 6000 FEET Winter Storm Watch issued March 16 at 3:06PM MST until March 19 at 6:00AM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ * WHAT…Heavy snow possible above 6000 feet. Total snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches with locally higher amounts of 16 inches possible. * WHERE…Areas above 6000 feet near Alpine, Doney Park, Flagstaff, Forest Lakes, Heber-Overgaard, Jacob Lake, Pinetop- Lakeside, Show Low and Williams. * WHEN…From Wednesday morning through early Thursday morning. * IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning or evening commute. Snow forecast from 6 AM Wednesday to 6 AM Thursday: Alpine 6 to 10 inches Doney Park 2 to 4 inches Flagstaff 8 to 12 inches Forest Lakes 9 to 15 inches Heber-Overgaard 3 to 5 inches Jacob Lake 4 to 8 inches Pinetop-Lkside 5 to 9 inches Show Low 3 to 5 inches Williams 8 to 12 inches.

Wet week ahead for Williams

WILLIAMS – Wet weather is forecast through Saturday. Starting tomorrow, snow is forecast before 10 a.m. and then rain and snow. It is expected to clear up and be mostly sunny Monday.

Monday night the chance of rain runs 20%. Tuesday there is a 60% chance or rain or snow. There could be about 1/2″ of snow Tuesday. Tuesday night and Wednesday there is a 70% chance of rain. Thursday the chance of rain drops to 40% and continues to drop through Saturday.

Winds are expected to be moderate except for Wednesday and Friday when winds could gust up to around 20-MPH.

Winter weather advisory for northern Arizona

WILLIAMS — The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory to start at 5 p.m. today and run to 5 a.m. Saturday for elevations above 5000 feet. Travel should be restricted to necessary travel during the period. If you must travel to Flagstaff, stay well clear of snow plows. It is not safe to travel directly behind the plow.

Ash Fork is not included in the weather advisory, but could get up to 4-inches from the storm. Valle could get up to 5-inches of snow.

Starting today Williams will be partly sunny with a 30% chance of snow showers after 11 a.m. Less than 1/2″ is expected today with 2- to 4-inches of snow accumulation overnight. Winds of 7- to 13-mph today lessening to about 8-mph overnight are expected.

Friday an 80% chance of show might bring up to 3″ of snow with less than 1″ overnight.

Weather is expected to clear Saturday with temperatures reaching the 35-degree range during the day. Monday there is a 20% chance of snow with little accumulation clearing again Tuesday through New Year Day.

Snow forecast from 5 PM Today to 5 AM Saturday:
Doney Park 4 to 8 inches
Flagstaff 5 to 9 inches
Forest Lakes 8 to 12 inches
Heber-Overgaard 4 to 6 inches
Payson 2 to 4 inches
Pine-Strawberry 7 to 11 inches
Sedona 0 to 1 inches
Williams 4 to 8 inches