24F at 5am

Hard freeze for Tucson tonight
Tucsonans are warned to protect their pets, water pipes and plants
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Looking for snow?

The highway up Mount Lemmon remained closed Friday night because of snow and icy conditions. Only residents and people who work on the mountain were being allowed up, and only if they had tire chains or four-wheel-drive vehicles. To check on whether the road is closed today, call 547-7510.

Preparing for hard freeze

Pet owners should either bring their animals indoors or make sure they have shelter with warm blankets to shield them from the cold.

Homeowners are advised to cover exposed pipes with insulation or towels to prevent them from freezing and bursting.

If pipes are not wrapped, it's best to drain them or leave a tap dripping in the fixture farthest from the water heater, which allows water to run through the pipes.

Anyone with an in-ground sprinkler system should drain the system.

Additionally, outdoor plants need to be protected from the harsh weather by covering them, but not with plastic.

It's going to be cold overnight tonight, with the National Weather Service issuing a hard-freeze warning, so Tucsonans should take steps to protect their pets, pipes and plants.

The hard-freeze warning lasts from 11 tonight through 9 a.m. Sunday. Cold, drier air is moving in behind a storm system that brought rain and snow Friday.

Temperatures are forecast to dip into the mid-20s overnight in Tucson, the weather service said.

Today will be cool as well, with highs in the upper 40s. Things should warm up a little by Sunday, with highs in the mid-50s and a low overnight temperature in the low 30s, the weather service said.

Residents are urged to take precautions in preparation for tonight's hard freeze.

Snow fell Friday throughout Southern Arizona, with 3 inches falling in Oracle, north of Tucson. Parts of the Tucson area had scattered reports of light snow falling. Sierra Vista had a trace of snow, the weather service said.

Mount Lemmon's snowfall total was not available Friday night.

Meanwhile in Flagstaff, the roofs of three businesses collapsed under the weight of accumulated snow. City officials ordered businesses with flat roofs to either remain closed or remove the wet, heavy snow.

Flagstaff has recorded nearly 34 inches of snow in December, including about 10 inches this week, the National Weather Service said.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/fromcomments/273482.php
http://www.post-trib.com/news/1350857,ice.article
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/ice-paralyzes-area-roads.html