It seems like just weeks ago that Arizona was sweltering under one of the hottest summers on record, with many Arizonans seeking refuge in pools or under tall trees in high country.

But those days are in the rear-view mirror. It’s November, the weather is cooler, the holidays are upon us and winter is ready to pounce.

Although the official start of winter is Dec. 21, in Arizona, winter conditions begin much earlier.

Depending on the timing and severity of major snow storms, the Arizona Department of Transportation typically closes two highways for the season in November and three others in December.

Snow begins melting and roads become passable again in April and May.

So, without further adieu, here is a list of the annual road closures:  

• A portion of State Route 366, also known as “The Swift Trail,” that’s at the end of pavement above Shannon Campground on Mount Graham: Typically closes Nov. 15 and reopens April 15. 
• State Route 473 between State Route 260 and Hawley Lake in the White Mountains: Typically closes Nov. 30 and reopens April 15.
• State Route 67 between Jacob Lake (US 89A) and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park: Typically closes Dec. 1 and reopens May 15.
• State Route 261 between Eager and Big Lake in the White Mountains: Typically closes Dec. 31 and reopens April 15.  
• State Route 273 between Sunrise Park and Big Lake in the White Mountains: Typically closes Dec. 31 and reopens April 15. 

ADOT’s Know Snow website is packed with tips on how to stay safe, warm and prepared for any journey on which you might encounter snow or ice. We recommend visiting the website.

One of the most important tips takes place before you ever get behind the wheel: Research weather conditions. Visit az511.gov or dial 511 for updated road conditions. Follow ADOT's Twitter account at @ArizonaDOT. However, never use a cellphone or mobile device while driving.

If it's going to be a big storm, you might choose to sit it out. That way ADOT’s nearly 200 snowplows can clear the roadways.

Did you know that ADOT's commercially licensed plow drivers – 400 of them in all – typically work 12-hour shifts during storms? Did you know that the safest place to be is four car lengths behind a snowplow, and that it's never safe to pass one until it pulls over to let you by? Did you know that ADOT annually spends between $5 million and $8 million on winter safety operations?

You also can reduce the chances of getting caught out in the cold by downloading the free ADOT Alerts app available for iOS and Android. Using geofencing technology, the app will alert you to major events on highways, including any closures prompted by snowfall.

For more facts and tips, please check out our Know Snow website. You’ll be glad you did.

Snow melting. Flowers growing. The swallows returning to Capistrano. All signs of spring finally returning after months of winter. 

In the world of transportation, there is another unmistakable sign that warmer weather is here to stay: The annual reopening of state highways in northern Arizona.

Starting today several state highways leading to popular outdoor destinations have reopened including:

• State Route 261 between Eager and Big Lake in the White Mountains
• State Route 273 between Sunrise Park and Big Lake in the White Mountains (that's the highway in the photo to the right, taken last year)
• State Route 473 between State Route 260 and Hawley Lake in the White Mountains.

In addition, State Route 366, known as Swift Trail, has reopened above Shannon Campground on Mount Graham. However, ADOT is still in the middle of a roadway repair project and drivers should continue to expect delays on SR 366 as work continues.

And once spring is fully in swing, State Route 67, leading from Jacob Lake to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon will reopen. That is currently scheduled for mid-May. That's the highway in the bottom right photo, which was also taken last year.

To reopen state highways after a long winter's nap involves a fair amount of spring cleaning. And by spring cleaning we mean using heavy-duty snowblowers to clear the road for eager motorists. 

We welcome everyone to take a drive through high country again, but remind you to continue to be safe. If you are heading out, take normal precautions such as:

• Make sure all occupants in a vehicle are buckled in.
• Check tire pressure, fluids and more to make sure a vehicle is in proper running condition.
• Be patient, including not following other vehicles too closely and building in extra travel time.
• Get enough sleep before the trip.
• Bring extra water and food.
• Never drink and drive.
• Check for information about highway restrictions and more by visiting az511.gov, calling 511 or following ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT).

You can find these and more summer trip safety tips in a recent blog post. 

Here's a question we haven't received in a while, but with more snow expected up north, some motorists may wonder - what are these vertical white lines often seen on the roads?

No, this is not some sort of alien landing strip. The answer is much more down-to-earth. 

"That is an anti-icing strategy known as brine application," said Kevin Duby, Statewide Road Weather Manager. "It is a proactive approach that we use to delay the ice bonding to the roadway."

In other words, as snow falls on the road, and ice tries to form, the solvent stops the process. 

Another question we're frequently asked is whether the stuff safe for vehicles.

"Any salt substance can be corrosive to vehicles," Duby said. "However, in the situation pictured, it is usually dried on the roadway quickly. We also have corrosive inhibitors added to our deicing products, which is typically used after the snow has bonded to the road."

With more snow expected in the high country through tonight, drivers can expect to see this and other snow mitigation efforts out on the road. 

However, road preparation is only a part of safe driving during winter weather. Drivers are encouraged to "Know Snow" and make sure they and their vehicles are prepared. That includes making sure your vehicle is in good working order; having a winter driving kit with such essentials and warm clothing, a small bag of sand or cat litter, extra snacks and water, and a fully charged cell phone; and driving slower and expecting slick conditions. If motorists come across one of ADOT's 200 snowplows out doing its job, they should remember to stay at least four car lengths behind it and never try to pass a plow.

If you know winter weather will be part of your drive, the best advice is to delay travel if possible. That allows plows to do their work and for the weather to clear. If driving is necessary, check road conditions at AZ511.gov or by using our AZ 511 app.

This is part of a series of blogs called "Ask ADOT." If you have a burning question about transportation infrastructure, history, or you see something on our highways that piques your interest, send us a tweet or message us on Facebook and we'll try to find more information on it for you.

One of the great things about Arizona is snow is just an hour or two away by vehicle. But it’s important to resist the urge to just jump in the car and go instead of leaving prepared.

Part of leaving prepared includes checking road conditions at az511.gov before leaving. It also includes packing plenty of warm clothes and an emergency kit that includes things like a fully charged cell phone, blankets, food and water, medications you need and even kitty litter or sand in case you get stuck in the snow.

Leaving prepared also includes remembering these two things:

1. You may have to spend an extended period of time on the road due to weather or unplanned incidents. It's best to be prepared. 
2. It’s illegal and unsafe to parking along the highway to play in the snow.

Highway shoulders are for emergencies, and stopping there can put you, your passengers and other drivers at risk. First responders often need to use highway shoulders, and a snowplow can hurl snow and ice far off the highway. So use designated parking at snow play areas.

Also, it’s not uncommon for lots of desert dwellers to take the opportunity to head north to play in the snow. So, remember to pack your patience and expect to spend extended time in your vehicle getting to and from snow play areas.

Check azdot.gov/KnowSnow for more winter driving tips.

Much like a football team makes a plan to win games, ADOT makes a plan to “win the winter season” by helping to keep highways clear of snow and ice. With thousands of miles of state highway located in areas where it snows, ADOT must carefully plan and deploy its resources to high-priority needs first.

Those high-priority needs are interstates like I-40 and I-17 that carry hundreds of thousands of vehicles and trucks everyday. Many of ADOT’s 200 snowplows will be deployed along an interstate like I-40 right before a winter storm so they are ready to go when the first snowflakes begin to fall.

State routes with lower traffic volumes are considered secondary routes because not as many vehicles use these roads. Once the interstates are cleared, ADOT snowplow operators will take care of these local state highways.

ADOT will also “block” certain state highways (that means close) as part of its game plan. SR 67 leading to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, state routes 261, 273 and 473 in the White Mountains and SR 366 heading up Mount Graham in southern Arizona all close for the winter.

These highways receive a lot of snow during the winter, so given that plus the fact that these roads end at destinations like the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, it makes sense to close these roads so ADOT can keep its snowplows focused on interstates and other state highways. Crews return to these highways in the spring to plow them and get them ready for reopening.

It’s important for you to have a winter game plan as well. That plan includes leaving prepared before heading to the snow.

Check az511.gov before you leave to check road conditions. Download the ADOT Alerts and AZ 511 apps. Wait out the storm if possible to give ADOT’s snowplows time to clear the highways of snow and ice. Also, take a fully charged cell phone, warm clothing and an emergency kit that includes blankets, food and water, medication and sand or kitty litter.

Check your vehicle before heading out in winter weather, making sure – at a minimum – that the tires, heater and windshield wipers are in good shape.

You can formulate your game plan at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.

With temperatures finally creeping lower, it's time to start thinking about snow again. To prepare for this year’s winter storm season, about 230 ADOT employees participated in the recent Winter Readiness Academy.

Participants learned how to use snowplows to clear snow and ice on highways in Arizona’s mountain areas. Because of  the current public health situation, the in-person training used in previous years was transformed into a hybrid program with both virtual and in-person activities during the week of Sept. 21. 

“Students learned about running their routes, proper plowing techniques, coding plow activities, where and when to use proper material,” said Statewide Road Weather Manager Kevin Duby. “There is a lot to understand, and every situation and storm can be fluid.”  

Employees watched pre-recorded presentations by subject-matter experts and received in-person training using the snowplow simulator machine that presents the operator with real-world hazards they may face on the road. Because of the public-health emergency, units used social-distancing protocols and limited the number of people in their areas. 

“This workshop coupled with snowplow simulator training, unit-level snow meetings, hands-on equipment training and driving routes prepares our teams for the riggers of winter operations that lay ahead,” said Northcentral District Highway Operations Superintendent Thomas Eckler. “The workshop also allows for networking and the exchange of ideas on how to improve our processes and level of service.”

ADOT has about 200 snowplows. New plows cost about $303,000 to $340,000 each, depending on the plow’s configuration. 

That's how we are preparing, but you can read about how you can prepare for driving during wintry weather at azdot.gov/knowsnow.

By Laurie Merrill / ADOT Communications

If you were born and raised south of Cordes Junction, let’s face it: You’re probably not an expert when it comes to driving in snow. Even if you hail from the East Coast or a place like Colorado, chances are you’ve been driving in blazing sunlight so long that at the very least you need a refresher.

ADOT’s Know Snow website is packed with tips on how to stay safe, warm and prepared for any journey on which you might encounter snow or ice. We recommend giving it a look with snow forecast in Arizona's high country starting Thursday night.

One of the most important tips takes place before you even get behind the wheel: Research weather conditions. Visit az511.gov or dial 511 for updated road conditions. Follow ADOT's Twitter account at @ArizonaDOT. However, never use a cellphone or mobile device while driving.

If it's going to be a big storm, you might choose to sit this one out . That way ADOT’s nearly 200 snowplows can clear the roadways.

Did you know that ADOT's commercially licensed plow drivers – 400 of them in all – typically work 12-hour shifts during storms? Did you know that the safest place to be is four car lengths behind a snowplow, and that it's never safe to pass one until it pulls over to let you by? Did you know that ADOT annually spends between $5 million and $8 million on winter safety operations?

For more facts and tips, please check out our Know Snow website. You’ll be glad you did.

You also can reduce the chances of getting caught out in the cold by downloading the free ADOT Alerts app available for iOS and Android at ADOTAlerts.com. Using geofencing technology, the app will alert you to major events on highways, including any closures prompted by snowfall.