PHOENIX — As winter storm warnings blanket northern Arizona, we're beginning to see major traffic impacts and road closures starting to go into effect.
I-40 eastbound at milepost 164: A jackknifed semi is blocking the right lane. #aztraffic pic.twitter.com/dWCCGvfagE
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) February 21, 2019
Troopers are working 3 separate calls on I-40 and 1 on US-93 for stuck vehicles (mostly semis). They are completely blocking the roadways. They just cleared 1 non-injury crash and have 2 slide-offs as well. https://t.co/UmQUSHTNAE
— Dept. Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) February 21, 2019
LIVE UPDATES: Track winter storm in Arizona
The National Weather Service and state transportation officials on Wednesday urged drivers to delay travel during the storm, which is expected to continue through Friday afternoon.
Postponing travel to the high country is going to be your safest bet, but if you must travel, make sure you and your vehicle are prepared #abc15wx #azwx https://t.co/J5ARbvAwLl
— Iris Hermosillo (@IrisABC15) February 20, 2019
Forecasters have called for up to 2 feet of snow in Flagstaff, Prescott, Alpine, the Grand Canyon's North Rim and Show Low, and up to 2.5 feet in Payson. Bisbee and Oracle in southeastern Arizona could see around a foot of snow.
The central Arizona deserts are expected to get significant rain, accompanied by temperatures far colder than normal. Phoenix's normal high around this time of the year is 72 degrees but will drop to nearly 50 degrees.
RELATED: Brr! Has this winter been colder than normal in the Valley?
