Flagstaff, AZ — The pre-dawn air bites across the San Francisco Peaks. Frost dusts pine needles, and the stars above Highway 180 glint through crystal-clear skies. It’s calm, cold, and unmistakably late October in northern Arizona — that crisp, still air marking the final stretch before winter settles in.
Temperatures early this morning plunged into the upper 20s, with calm winds and high pressure keeping skies perfectly clear. That same pattern holds through the weekend, delivering sunny days in the upper 60s and nights near freezing. Residents should expect frosty mornings through Sunday, with windshield scraping and slick decks likely at dawn.
It’s ideal weather for leaf cleanup and pre-winter prep, but the calm may not last long. Models are beginning to signal a shift between November 8–12, when colder Pacific air could sweep into the Four Corners region. That system — while still several days out — could bring the season’s first measurable snow above 6,500 feet and a sharp drop in daytime highs.
For now, Flagstaff stays bright, cold, and quiet, the kind of weather that invites morning hikes and hot coffee outdoors. But as early November unfolds, the pattern across the Rockies and northern Arizona looks ready to turn — the first real taste of winter may be only days away.
