Winter weather affecting Arizona travel

February 20, 2013

Winter weather has prompted transportation officials to close sections of U.S. 60 just east of the Valley.

While it’s been raining in the Phoenix area for most of Wednesday, and snowing for a while in the high country, ADOT’s Garin Goff says the winter weather is not limited to the higher elevations.

superstition mountains The Superstition Mountains as seen from U.S. 60 in Mesa on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Arizona Department of Transportation)

“No, we’ve got snow coming right up to the edge of the Valley, it’s not just the high country," he said. "Our ADOT cameras have captured images of snow in the Superstition Mountains.”

The US 60 is closed between Superior and Miami, and Goff says it will be at least into the evening. He advises that travelers check with ADOT before heading into that part of the state to see whether you need chains on your car’s tires.

In fact, Goff says, you will have to have them if you travel north of Payson on State Route 87. Officials have 150 snowplows at the ready, and the National Weather Service says snow is falling at elevations as low as 2,000 feet.