Thunderstorm Warning In Coconino County: Stay Safe With These Travel And Weather Tips For Tourists

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office said nan scenic spot celebrated pinch visitors and its businesses and residents were nether nan informing of terrible thunderstorm issued by nan National Weather Service. The warning, which was issued astatine 3:01 p.m. connected July 15, is successful effect until 4:15 p.m. The region will stay nether threat from 60 mph upwind gusts and hail an inch and a half successful diameter. This large wind will beryllium earnestly deleterious to business and section tourism and recreation successful nan region.

As truthful galore group flock to this breathtaking swath of Northern Arizona, it’s useful to understand nan dangers that utmost upwind for illustration this tin bring. If you are in, aliases headed to, Coconino County, wherever celebrated spots for illustration Flagstaff, nan Grand Canyon aliases Sedona are located, you must beryllium informed and prepared.

Impact connected Travel and Tourism

Coconino County is location to a ample portion of nan Grand Canyon, pinch portion of nan Grand Canyon lying wrong nan county, and nan reddish stone formations of Sedona, and portion of Flagstaff, which is location to Northern Arizona University. It was besides a ample National Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hotspot, and nan 2nd hardest deed region of Northern Arizona. The visitors cognize nary play but particularly successful nan summertime erstwhile they travel present for different reasons—tours, walking, camping and truthful on.

But plans are easy scuttled by storms. Outdoor tours, hikes aliases sightseeing could beryllium impacted by delays aliases cancellations owed to precocious upwind speeds and hail, according to nan warning. Transportation could besides beryllium affected by rain, pinch a threat of flash flooding, peculiarly on streets successful low-lying areas aliases adjacent riverbanks. Local business owners (especially successful nan tourism industry) whitethorn want to see nan anticipation that arsenic visitors region aliases cancel their recreation plans, ft postulation mightiness slow.

The champion proposal for travelers is to enactment tuned and make immoderate needed changes successful your recreation plans. Stay connected to nan section authorities (e.g., National Weather Service, Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT)) for accusation regarding roadworthy closure and detour.

Travel Tips: What to Do successful a Thunderstorm aliases Lightning?

If you request to beryllium retired and astir successful nan snow, do return immoderate precautions you tin to beryllium safe:

The Weather: I really dream I don’t person to mention nan truth that you should virtually ever cheque nan upwind earlier a time connected nan water, but present it goes: ever cheque nan upwind earlier a time connected nan h2o (using a reputable root for illustration nan National Weather Service). Expect random upwind erstwhile you unrecorded successful nan mountains (like Coconino County).

Shelter Early: Waiting until nan large wind arrives and past seeking shelter is NOT really you do this. If you are outside, find a adjacent building pinch plumbing and wiring. These structures connection nan champion protection from lightning. “Cars are beautiful safe erstwhile you’re inside,” since nan electrical complaint from nan onslaught travels done nan metallic framework alternatively than hitting its passengers.

Get distant from h2o and trees: Being near, successful aliases nether h2o and opinionated adjacent to trees, time off you astatine consequence during a thunderstorm. If you’re connected an unfastened assemblage of h2o — river, lake, bay — get disconnected it, now. Do not hide nether nan trees either because nan trees tin beryllium struck by lighting and you whitethorn prolong an wounded moreover while you are untouched.

Driving Safety successful Rain: Rain connected nan roadworthy successful large wind intends vacation travelers should return care. For a fewer days astatine least, nan cardinal Arizona forecast calls for much off-and-on ray rainfall showers and drizzle, inevitably evoking that time successful February and nan connection CT Haake continues to emphasize: “When it rains, conscionable slow down.” If you person your wipers connected while you’re down nan wheel, ever usage your headlights, and support an oculus retired for h2o collecting successful nan roads, wherever it tin lead to hydroplaning.

Wait 30 Minutes After Thunder: If less than 30 seconds elapse from erstwhile you spot lightning until you perceive thunder, nan large wind is uncomfortably close. Wait astatine slightest 30 minutes aft nan past sound of thunder earlier resuming outdoor activities.

Business and Travel Impacts

Coconino County, section businesses, peculiarly those successful nan tourism related industries: hotels, restaurants, outdoor circuit operators, whitethorn acquisition individuals and groups not coming successful arsenic they displacement plans connected nan tourism side. All that helps make it easy to enactment connected apical of section upwind alerts and alteration your operations accordingly if you activity successful nan hospitality and recreation sector, arsenic you request to support guests safe from harm. If you’re a visitor, cheque confirmations and make caller plans if your circuit aliases activity is impacted by nan storm.

Day trippers and visitors reasoning of heading to outdoor attractions should support successful mind those that are indoors and that tin still beryllium enjoyed successful a storm, specified arsenic museums, galleries, and historical sites. That is not only is that for your information it will besides thief support section businesses during this reliable upwind event.

Final Thoughts for Tourists

What To Expect Coconino County thunderstorms tin consciousness for illustration a life-changing acquisition simply because they tin beryllium rather intimidating (especially if you’re not utilized to rain, thunder, lightning, aliases each 3 astatine erstwhile coming retired of a cloudless morning!). With nan due mentation and respect for nan powerfulness of mother nature, nan powerfulness of a monsoonal large wind tin beryllium felt without immoderate interruption. Stay safe and beryllium alert if you are successful nan large wind path. Visitors to nan Grand Canyon and different adjacent earthy landmarks should support an oculus connected nan upwind and person a backup scheme for astatine slightest immoderate indoor activities. Local businesses whitethorn connection typical deals aliases altered services during nan storm; it’s worthy checking pinch section tourism offices aliases hotels to cognize what’s disposable successful nan area.

Remember, nan upwind tin alteration quickly successful nan mountains, truthful bring an emergency kit and make judge your telephone artillery is charged. Provided that you enactment informed and travel nan information proposal of immoderate section officials are advising, you person thing to interest astir erstwhile you time off and really get to walk immoderate much clip enjoying this incredibly beautiful portion of Arizona.

Quick Tips for Travelers:

Revisit for updates from trusted sources including National Weather Service, nan Arizona section of Transportation.

Avoid being connected nan roadworthy successful times of terrible upwind specified arsenic hiking, camping aliases sightseeing unless you are successful a safe shelter location.

Drive Carefully If you are driving, return other attraction for illustration going slower, leaving much room betwixt cars and looking for debris successful nan roadway.

Know wherever you will return shelter if extracurricular erstwhile nan large wind strikes, and remember, a car aliases building (with wiring and plumbing) provides nan champion protection.

May arsenic ever beryllium safe, beryllium informed and bask our beautiful Coconino County moreover if nan upwind doesn’t ever cooperate.