PHOENIX — A strong winter storm is bringing dangerous winds, snow, and rain to Arizona, and it is impacting airport travelers.
The FAA website said a delay program was issued for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport just before 7 a.m. due to weather. Delays are an average of 15 minutes, but increasing, the FAA reported. That delay program was lifted a short time later.
As of 12 p.m., Sky Harbor's website showed 66 cancelations and 156 delays for upcoming flights. It's not clear whether all of those impacts are related to weather conditions.
LIVE UPDATES: Rain, snow, dangerous winds move into Arizona with winter storm
ABC15 Meteorologist Iris Hermosillo said wind gusts were topping 60 mph in parts of Arizona Wednesday morning.
Stephen Watkins, a pilot for ABC15's Cliff Castle Chopper, says windy conditions aren't just dangerous for those on the ground.
He says keeping control of the aircraft can be a big challenge. If wind gusts raise upwards of 30 knots, or roughly 35 miles per hour, that makes things tricky for pilots.
RELATED: Preparing for potentially destructive winds in the Valley
If you're traveling on the ground, the Arizona Department of Transportation and Arizona Department of Public Safety have put road closures in place in northern Arizona. Drivers are urged to delay travel and use extreme caution.
