KGUN 9NewsLocal News

Actions

Road to Mount Lemmon reopens before rain, snow roll in

Posted at 10:30 AM, Dec 26, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-26 15:02:59-05

TUCSON, Ariz. — The road to Mount Lemmon has reopened, but it likely won't stay that way for long.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department reopened the Catalina Highway Thursday morning, just before 10 a.m., only for vehicles with four-wheel drive or snow chains. Just before noon, PCSD opened the road to all drivers, with no conditions.

The Mt. Lemmon road had been open only to residents of the mountain and those who work there since around noon on Christmas Eve.

Anyone who wants to see the snow on the mountains may only have a brief chance Wednesday morning, as a winter weather advisory is in effect for the Tucson area starting at 11 p.m. KGUN 9 Meteorologist April Madison says anywhere above 7,000 feet can expect up to a foot of snow.

RELATED: Winter Weather Advisory issued for Tucson area Thursday

That rain and snow is likely to begin sometime in the late evening, and the Pima County Sheriff's Department will likely close the road again when the storm hits. The National Weather Service's winter weather advisory is set to expire at 11 a.m. Friday.