WILLIAMS – The riders on the last few days of the Polar Express will find Santa Clause in snow for the first time. After a couple of months of winter waiting, Williams finally got a significant snow today. The long range weather forecast predicts about seven-inches by the end of the day with about an inch of new snow on New Year’s Day.

Flagstaff is expected to get about 10-inches with 3 to 5-inches overnight. They could get up to 2-inches tomorrow.

Last night until about 7:30, the sky was clear and stars were visible. Later that night the clouds moved in and snow started to fall about 10:58 p.m.

This morning Williams woke up to about two-inches and it continued to fall through the day piling up to about five-inches at about 1 p.m. Snow removal crews are on the job and Williams residents are taking pictures like tourists.

Many of the restaurants and shops are open, but Bearizona closed early in the morning. They, like everyone else, are shoveling snow and removing it from the roadways. Bearizona should re-open on Friday.