Top 7 Winter Safety Tips for Visiting Flagstaff, AZ

Flagstaff attracts visitors from all over to our snowy playground. Accumulating an average of 100 inches of snow annually in downtown, the surrounding ponderosa forests are blanketed with even more - welcoming winter enthusiasts to partake in a multitude of winter activities, such as skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and snowbiking.

1. Be Prepared

Travel with cold weather necessities including plenty of gas in the tank, fully charged cell phone, supply of drinking water, flashlight, batteries, pack blankets, gloves, scarves, snacks and medication.

2. Safety First

Slow down, only park in designated areas, do not park along highways, allow for extra time due to road conditions or travel delays.

3. Respect Property

Do not block driveways, entrances or exits, use restrooms prior to arriving at snowplay area, play in approved designated areas as shown on the snowplay map.

4. Leave No Trace

Be sure to take your trash and snowplay items back to your vehicle for proper storage, recycling or trash.

5. Have an Alternative Plan

Flagstaff offers numerous indoor and outdoor family-friendly winter activities. Stop by the Flagstaff Visitor Center for a customized itinerary.

6. Spend the Night

Weather is unpredictable and conditions can quickly change. Err on the cautious side and plan to stay overnight. There are plenty of family and pet-friendly hotels and campgrounds. Visit discoverflagstaff.com to book your lodging.

7. Winter Driving Safety

Always call to check road conditions before you travel to Flagstaff during the winter season.

Road Conditions:
511 anywhere in Arizona or
1-888-411-ROAD (7623) az511.com

Winter Weather Terms:

• Advisory: weather event that may threaten life or property if caution is not exercised
• Blizzard: a long severe snowstorm
• Blowing Snow: wind-driven snow that significantly reduces visibility to less than seven miles
• Flurries: light snowfall that generally does not produce measurable accumulation
• Freezing Drizzle or Rain: the effect of drizzle or rain upon impact on objects that have a temperature of 32 degrees or below
• Frost: a covering of small ice crystals that forms on or near the ground when temperatures approach or drop below 32 degrees
• Ice Storm: a freezing rain event that produces damaging ice accumulations of ¼ inch or greater
• Icicles: hanging mass of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water
• Sleet: solid grains of ice formed by the freezing of raindrops or the refreezing of largely melted snowflakes
• Snow: a descent or shower of crystals of ice formed from water vapor in the air
• Snowpack: layers of snow and ice on the ground at any one time
• Snow Showers: snow that stops and starts suddenly and is characterized by rapid changes in both intensity and visibility
• Warning: a hazardous weather element is imminent and has a very high probability of occurrence
• Wind Chill: apparent temperature that describes the combined effect of wind and low air temperatures