FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The mountain air is crisp and still this morning at 32°F, the kind of cold that hints at what’s ahead. Clouds are building slowly over the San Francisco Peaks, signaling the approach of a modest but meaningful early winter system — one that could deliver the first measurable snow to Flagstaff in several weeks.
According to the National Weather Service, a Pacific disturbance will reach northern Arizona Saturday afternoon into Sunday, bringing a mix of rain and snow to the high country. While accumulations should remain under a half inch, roads could become slick during the evening and early morning hours, especially along I-40 and US-180 where colder pockets linger.
The first flakes could appear around midday Saturday, transitioning to light snow by nightfall. Temperatures will hover near freezing, dipping into the 20s by early Sunday as moisture fades east. Sunday itself will bring gradual clearing and highs in the mid-40s — cold but calmer, a brief window before Thanksgiving travel ramps up.
By early next week, drier weather and milder air will settle over northern Arizona. Highs climb back into the upper 40s to low 50s, with mostly sunny skies expected through Thanksgiving Day — ideal for road trips or outdoor plans.
Farther north and east, meteorologists are monitoring a larger winter pattern shift setting up between November 25 and December 3, one that could drop 3–10 inches of snow from the central Plains to the Midwest. For now, Flagstaff’s snowfall will be light — but it’s a reminder that winter is officially knocking on Arizona’s high-country door.
Five-Day Forecast for Flagstaff, AZ:
Fri: 43/28 – Increasing clouds; calm wind.
Sat: 46/30 – Rain/snow mix late; breezy.
Sun: 44/25 – Flurries early; partly cloudy.
Mon: 52/24 – Sunny; calm winds.
Tue: 50/23 – Mostly clear; dry air.
