WILLIAMS – The weather service predicts rain and snow starting today through Friday with some snow accumulation possible. The same conditions exist for Flagstaff.
Scattered rain and snow showers are expected this afternoon with some thunder possible tonight in Flagstaff. There is a possibility of a half-inch of snow accumulation overnight.
The rain and snow conditions will continue through Friday during the day returning to sunny and warm by Saturday.
WILLIAMS – There is another chance of rain for Williams starting tomorrow. It is doubtful if it will be a significant amount.
The latest prediction is a 10% chance of rain tomorrow night rising to 20% during the day Friday and 30% Friday night.
Wind gusts of 24 mph are possible tomorrow during the day. Winds will be 11-16 mph Thursday night with gusts up to 23. Winds over Friday are expected to be 8-13 mph during the day dropping at night.
The long-range forecast shows rain ceasing over the rest of next week with temperatures rising to the sixties.
WILLIAMS – Just after level 4 water restrictions were announced last week, the price of water at the local filter machines rose dramatically.
Although we received the expected moisture this week, the amount predicted did not come. We received only a dusting of snow instead of the 1-3 inches. Even the 1-3 inches would not have done much to stay the drought and the level 4 restrictions.
According to the NOAA weather predictions, we have a 30% chance of rain and snow the rest of the day dropping to 10% chance tonight. Starting Monday with temperatures rising to near sixties by Thursday. The long-range forecast shows that Friday there is a slight chance of moisture returning to sunny on Saturday.
WILLIAMS – As if to become the poster child for global warming, while two-thirds of the nation are under snow and ice northern Arizona has been experiencing summer-like weather. Recently some have complained about allergies as if spring were here.
There are slight chances of rain this week including a 100% chance Friday with slight chances of snow continuing into next week. The moisture moving into the area, however, does not appear likely to stay the Level 4 water restrictions that the City of Williams has already had to impose. This could chance as conditions change.
The Santa Fe reservoir has been virtually ice-free since December which is totally uncharacteristic for this time of the year. In addition the water level has dropped to dangerously low levels.
The notice from the City of Williams web site is as follows:
URGENT NOTICE EFFECTIVE: February 25, 2014 (unless otherwise noted)
Due to the extremely dry winter the City’s water reservoir levels are at critically low levels. To protect the City’s ability to provide water for our most basic needs, according to Title 8 – Article 4.08 of the City Code, the City must enact immediately the following Water Conservation Measure:
Resource Status Level 4: Water Crisis.
(i) The following water uses are restricted or prohibited. No person shall:
(1) Do any of the acts prescribed in previous status level restrictions.
(washing vehicles, washing outdoor areas, refilling swimming pools, etc.)
(2) Use potable or raw water for irrigation.
(3) Use potable or raw water for any purpose other than public health or emergency purposes.
(4) Use potable or raw water in violation of any other restriction deemed necessary by the City Council. (none at this time)
(5) No new building permits will be issued (those currently in the pipeline excluded)
(6) All commercial water hauling is stopped except for residential purposes.
While these are the most severe restrictions possible under City Code, they have been deemed necessary to ensure our ability to continue meeting the basic water needs of our community. Given the severity of the situation, Resource Status Level 4: Water Crisis includes, but is not limited to, the following penalties for violations of restrictions:
1. Excessive Water Consumption Rates: During Resource Status Level 3 and Resource Status Level 4, Single Family Residential rates shall increase to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the established rate for any water consumption between fifteen thousand (15,000) and twenty thousand (20,000) gallons.
Rate shall increase to two hundred percent (200%) of the established rate for any water consumption greater than twenty thousand (20,000) gallons per billing cycle. Rate increases shall take effect with the current billing cycle, which began immediately following the date of your last meter read (indicated on your enclosed bill).
2. Violation Surcharges and Appeals: When a violation of the Water Restrictions is observed…the following surcharges will apply to all violations…
(3)A surcharge of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be assessed to the account of record for a violation of Resource Status Level 4.
(4) Surcharges shall double for every repeat violation.
Restrictions on Business and Industrial Uses include:
All businesses and industries using City water shall be restricted to the use of the amount of water used by the business or industry during the corresponding month of the year preceding the effective date hereof.
The City is working to identify any possible measures to ease the situation on several fronts. These include identifying possible new sources of water that can be used by the City. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this very difficult situation.
Grand Canyon – While northern Arizona is suffering a dangerously mild winter, it will make the entrance free days this President’s Day weekend a delight. It is also the off-season so the traffic should be light. Temperatures are expected to be 67 tomorrow dropping to 62 on Sunday and 59-degrees on Washington’s Birthday. Entry into the Canyon will be free February 15 through Monday the 17th.
The problem with the weather is that if northern Arizona does not get significant snowfall the rest of this winter, we could have a dangerously dry summer causing closures of camping areas and cutting into the tourist trade.
Snow possibility is predicted by the National Weather Service through next Thursday. While this is only the beginning of our heavy snow period, it is questionable whether or not it will be enough to prevent a dangerous fire season this summer.
Today, 80% chance of snow is predicted with with a 40% chance overnight. Winds up to 18 mph with gusts to 32 are expected. Snow began to fall about 9:30 this morning, less than an inch is expected.
Saturday, snow is likely during the day after 11 with calmer southeast winds of 5-9 mph. The chance of snow drops to 40% overnight.
Sunday is expected to be clear with a 20% chance over Sunday night. Chance of snow increases Monday to 40% and drops to slight chance through Thursday of next week.
Overall snow accumulation could be about 3″. The heavy snow period for this area is usually February and March.
WILLIAMS—No. We are not talking about staged Democratic or Republican rallies or politicians in town seeking re-election.
We’re talking about the real chemical warfare experts.
With the pleasant springtime weather we have enjoyed so far this winter, skunks are apparently coming out to dig into the trash cans in the evenings for food.
Unfortunately the long-range forecast shows not even a hint of rain, much less snow. The forecast shows sunny and dry through next Saturday. While this could change over time, recent history does not bear out that possibility.
Another problem is the snow that we have had is nearly gone and the ground is drying up. This leaves us open to the possibility of a catastrophic fire during what should be a safe season.
FLAGSTAFF—Snow is predicted through the area from Thursday through Saturday with less than a half-inch for Williams and less than an inch in Flagstaff. Ash Fork is predicted to get rain for the period.
WILLIAMS—Movie night at the First Baptist Church kicks off the weekend events in Williams. 7th to 12th graders are invited to attend movie lock-in night at the church starting Friday, December 13th and ending around 9 am on Saturday. Participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag and pillow and a snack to share. There will be board games, cards and WII games. Contact Bob Broehm at (928)380-4346 if you have any questions.
The annual Kiwanis dinner starts at noon tomorrow at Doc Holiday’s on Grand Canyon Boulevard. The dinner features a great banquet, prizes and a visit by Santa.
There will, of course, be time to squeeze in a trip through Bearizona and a ride on the Polar Express.
The weather is expected to be clear through the weekend after rain and snow tonight.
WILLIAMS—The snow hit Williams early in the morning leaving about an inch by the afternoon. The snow in Flagstaff and Williams is expected to clear tomorrow and start again this weekend. Williams could receive 5 to 9 inches over the weekend while Flagstaff may get 3 to 5 inches of new powder.
