Windy weather across Arizona, I-40 reopens

PHOENIX -- A 17-mile stretch of Interstate 40 in northern Arizona was closed Wednesday morning when a dust storm reduced visibility to near zero. It has since reopened.

The Department of Public Safety closed the interstate at 8:51 a.m. east of Flagstaff, between the Meteor Crater rest area and Winslow.

Wednesday was the third time in as many weeks that high winds and blowing dust have forced closure of I-40 in the Winslow area.

Wind advisories and high wind warnings were in effect for much of northern Arizona today. The National Weather Service forecast wind gusts to 65 mph in Navajo and Apache counties. Scattered rain and snow showers were forecast from Flagstaff northward through Thursday, although little or no snow was expected to accumulate.

In southeastern Arizona, a red flag warning was issued from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday for Graham County, south of the Gila River, and Cochise county. Wind speeds of more than 40 mph, with gusts to more than 50 mph, were expected in the afternoon.

Much cooler temperatures were forecast across Arizona through Thursday. Dry conditions and much warmer temperatures will return by the weekend.