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Winter drops in for a visit
Snowstorm expected to end this morning

City of Williams personnel clear snow on Route 66 the morning of Dec. 10 prior to the start of the next storm, pictured below, as it blankets Williams on the west side of town.

City of Williams personnel clear snow on Route 66 the morning of Dec. 10 prior to the start of the next storm, pictured below, as it blankets Williams on the west side of town.

Temperatures got rather chilly as the first real storms of the winter season made their slow trek across northern Arizona recently, producing 4-5 inches of snow in the Flagstaff, Williams and Bellemont area as of Dec. 10. An additional eight to 10 inches of snow fell Dec. 11. Dennis VanCleve, meteorologist intern with the National Weather Service in Bellemont, said the weather is expected to settle down beginning late this morning.

"After Wednesday, basically, (it will be) kind of quieter. We lose the chance of precip for the rest of the week. We can expect to warm up to around 40 and stay around 40, low 40s, into the weekend," VanCleve said.

Drivers slid and careened at a number of Williams intersections between Dec. 7-11 as icy conditions made the roadways treacherous for vehicular traffic. A break in the weather is expected to start today, one that forecasters predict may last through the weekend. High temperatures for the remainder of the week and into the weekend are expected in the low 40s to mid-30s. Lows are expected around 18 degrees for the remainder of the week.

Lt. Mike Graham with the Williams Police Department said that, despite a few slips and slides, the weather did not create a lot of problems in the Williams area.

"It was really quiet," Graham said. "I was kind of surprised when I got in here. We didn't have anything."

Employees with the city of Williams worked to clear the streets throughout the lengthy storm and continue to move snow away from busy thoroughfares. Removal measures are based on a number of priorities adopted by members of the Williams City Council, according to city ordinances. Priorities include access to emergency services and open routes for emergency vehicles, school bus routes, downtown streets and residential areas, outlying areas, such as Country Club Road, major collector streets and airport facilities.

The city of Williams Public Works Department's snow removal plan, according to city officials, is put into effect after three inches of snow is detected on the ground. Removal equipment is kept in service while snow continues to fall. After the snow is cleared, according to city practices, cinder trucks are then dispatched to assigned routes.

Public Works officials advise the public to follow snow restrictions in times of heavy snow. During snow removal season, city ordinance states that vehicles should find alternative parking in order to keep the streets, alleys and boulevards clear for snow removal equipment.

Owners, tenants and business owners are charged with the task of snow removal on their properties and to create a path of at least 36 inches in width in front of and around their businesses or homes. Ordinances call for removal of snow within 24-hours of the last snowfall. According to code, hard ice or packed snow may not be easily removed from a sidewalk. In that event, sand or another form of abrasive is allowed.

Property owners, tenants and business owners are responsible with clearing snow from rooftops - at least in areas where the snow can fall onto sidewalks and impede pedestrian traffic or create a safety risk. Anyone found in violation of a city ordinance, according to code, may face misdemeanor charges as well as possible city fines.


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