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Medicare Agent in Flagstaff, AZ
Trying to pick a health insurance plan can be a chore for anyone. For many people, just mentioning the word "open enrollment" sends shivers down the spine. It seems like there's always a nagging feeling that you're wasting money, choosing a plan with poor in-network care, or both. One would think that health insurance gets easier as you approach retirement age, but the truth is that picking an initial Medicare coverage plan can be daunting.
Unfortunately, the confusing process of signing up for Medicare causes many seniors to forego healthcare coverage altogether. After all, Medicare enrollment can involve several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (or SSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS).
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, our passion is guiding seniors through the confusion of Medicare. That way, they can enjoy retirement with peace of mind knowing they are protected and ready for life after 65. We work with dozens of insurance companies, giving our clients the chance to choose a plan that best fits their lifestyle.
We choose to design our senior insurance plans with a focus on optimal benefits structure, lower costs, and personalized service. Some independent insurance agencies see their aging customers as nothing more than a financial transaction waiting to happen. In contrast, we treat each of our clients with respect and dignity as we help them navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. Combined with individualized service, we help older Americans make well-informed decisions about insurance. Whether you're in need of senior Medicare Supplement Plan insurance in Flagstaff, AZ or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.
- Helping Seniors Make Better-Informed Medicare Decisions
- What is Medicare?
- The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including
- Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Flagstaff, AZ
- Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
- Medicare Agent in Flagstaff, AZ
- How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
- Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
- Paying for Your Medicare Agent
- The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
What is Medicare?
If you're approaching the golden years of your life, it's important you understand what Medicare is if you don't already.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program reserved for people older than 65 who have worked full-time for at least ten years. The Medicare program is paid for by a combination of worker payroll tax, premiums paid by Medicare enrollees, and the U.S. government.
There are four parts of Medicare:
This type of Medicare is free for most U.S. citizens. Medicare Part A helps older adults pay for care in a nursing facility, hospital visits, and some forms of in-home senior care.
This tier costs around $100 per month. It covers different outpatient services like lab tests, preventative care, doctor's visits, mental health care, clinical trials, and some forms of surgery.
This type of Medicare is most often called Medicare Advantage. This tier of Medicare allows seniors to choose health plans provided by insurance companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Individuals who use Medicare Advantage commonly use Medicare supplement plan insurance to help pay for health care costs that Original Medicare won't cover, like coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments.
Sometimes called "PDPs," these plans add drug coverage to standard Medicare, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS), some Medicare Cost Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans (MSA).
The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including:
- What kind of care you need, and how often it is needed.
- The type of Medicare coverage you choose.
- Whether there are alternative insurance policies that will help fill gaps in your coverage
- Whether a doctor agrees to charge you the same amount that Medicare will cover for a medical service
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, we offer a number of health insurance solutions for seniors. Two of our most used services include Medicare Advantage plan insurance and Medicare supplement plan insurance.
Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Flagstaff, AZ
Sometimes called Medigap, the purpose of Medicare Supplement Insurance is to help fill in "gaps" that might not be covered by Original Medicare. You can think of a Medigap policy as a supplement for your Original Medicare benefits.
Private companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services sell this type of insurance right here in South Carolina. While Original Medicare will pay for much of the cost associated with health care services you need, it may not cover all of your expenses. Generally, Medigap policies do not cover costs stemming from eyeglasses, private-duty nurses, dental care, hearing aids, or long-term care.
Depending on the Medicare Supplement Plan that you choose, it may cover out-of-the-country medical services when you travel abroad. Assuming you have Original Medicare coverage, your policy will cover its share of Medicare-approved health care costs. Once your Original Medicare coverage reaches its limit, your Medigap policy will pay its share of the fees.
Our Medigap policies are drafted to meet your specific needs, and can help cover remaining health care costs such as:
Deductibles
Copayments
Coinsurance
Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
To dispel some confusion, you should know that a Medigap policy is not the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan. The latter helps you receive Medicare benefits, while the former supplements the benefits you obtain through your Original Medicare plan. As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
- To qualify for a Medigap policy, you must first have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
- Payments on your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan will be made to the private insurance company that you choose, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. These payments are made every month and are paid in addition to the monthly payment you make for Medicare Part B.
- If you are the holder of a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for an insurance company to sell you a senior Medicare Supplement Policy. If you plan on switching back to an Original Medicare plan, you may be able to purchase a Medigap policy.
- If you have health problems as you age, your standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed to be renewable. So long as you pay your monthly premium, your insurance provider cannot cancel your policy.
- Medigap policies only cover one person. If you have a spouse or family member that would like coverage, they must purchase a separate policy.
- You may only buy a Senior Medicare Supplement Plan from an insurance agent that is licensed to sell them in your state. Senior Medicare Insurance Services has been licensed to sell Medigap policies in South Carolina for years. We have helped countless seniors get the Medicare coverage they need and continue to do so to this day.
- In the past, Medigap policies were able to cover costs related to prescription drugs. As of January 1st, 2006, prescription drug coverage is not available on Medicare Supplement Plans. The best way to get coverage for your prescription drugs is to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, often called Part D. Contact our office today to learn more about paying premiums on Medigap and Medicare plans.
For many people, the best time to buy senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Flagstaff, AZ is during the 7 months Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period starts the day you turn 65 years old, so long as you hold Medical Insurance (Medicare Part B). Generally, during the enrollment period, you get more policy choices and better pricing. Once the enrollment period is over, you may not be able to purchase a Medigap policy. Contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services today to determine if you qualify for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan.
Medicare Agent in Flagstaff, AZ
A Medicare Advantage Plan is a kind of Medicare health coverage designed to provide seniors with all their Part A and Part B Medicare benefits. Many Medicare Advantage Plans will often include coverage of the following:
- Preferred Provider Organizations
- Special Needs Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service
- Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
- Health Maintenance Organizations
In addition, most Medicare Advantage Plans give seniors coverage for their prescription drug needs. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan through Senior Medicare Insurance Services, your Medicare benefits are covered through your plan and will not be paid for by traditional Medicare.
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
Sometimes called "MA Plans" or "Part C," Medicare Advantage Plans are considered an "all in one" solution to Original Medicare. Senior Medicare Advantage Plans are only offered by private companies that are approved, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Seniors who enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan are still on Medicare. However, these individuals enjoy bundled plans that give seniors the benefits of hospital insurance (Medicare Part A), medical insurance (Medicare Part B), and sometimes drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare Advantage Plans are very popular because they cover all Medicare services and make life a little easier for seniors who have trouble understanding the nuances of Medicare.
When you contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services to choose your Medicare Advantage Plan, ask your agent about Medicare prescription drug coverage. Unless you already have drug coverage (Part D), you should seriously consider Part D coverage to help reduce costs associated with prescription drugs. You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan to help fill gaps in coverage that Original Medicare will not cover.
Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
Medicare works by paying a set amount of money to the companies that offer Medicare Agent in Flagstaff, AZ. That money is used to pay for the care services that you need. Because Medicare Advantage Plans are different, you should expect out-of-pocket costs to vary depending on the plan you choose.
Different plans have different rules for how you receive services, such as:
If you must go to facilities, suppliers, or doctors that belong to your Advantage Plan for non-urgent and non-emergency care.-
Whether you must get a referral to see a specialized doctor
Companies that offer Medicare Advantage Plans must follow strict rules, which are set by Medicare and can change every year.
Paying for Your Medicare Agent
How much you pay for your Medicare Advantage Plan varies and depends on a few different factors. In most cases, if you need a kind of medical service, you will need to rely on the doctors and providers in your plan's service area and network to pay the lowest amounts. In some cases, if you choose to use a service outside of your plan's network of coverage, you may have to pay out-of-pocket.
We encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans, how they work, what your options are, and how often you will have to pay out-of-pocket, if at all.
The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
Since our company was founded, we have led the insurance industry by providing our clients with the most valuable, helpful insurance solutions available. We are fully committed to our current and prospective clients by:
Choosing to focus on personalized, one-on-one service. When you work with our team, know that we will always design your health insurance plan with your best interests in mind.-
Listening to your specific needs. -
Responding to all inquiries and questions promptly and with a friendly attitude. -
Providing you with the best customer service in the senior health insurance industry, whether you have questions or are ready to move forward with a Medicare plan.
Our mission is to help give seniors the best Medicare assistance available so that they may understand the Medicare process and make an informed health coverage decision. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to assist anyone interested in Medicare. Our personal goal is to become a lifetime resource for our clients and give them greater confidence in choosing their insurance plans.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 57 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
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Latest News in Flagstaff, AZ
This Flagstaff hotel’s new giant cheddar loaf is nacho average roadside stop
Brian Petersheim Jrhttps://www.azfamily.com/2026/08/30/this-flagstaff-hotels-new-giant-cheddar-loaf-is-nacho-average-roadside-stop/
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — Route 66 has never met an oversized roadside novelty it didn’t like.Giant jackrabbits? Check. Giant hot dogs? Check. Giant everything, really. So maybe it was only a matter of time before someone plopped down a giant block of cheese in northern Arizona.Enter the Cheeseside Attraction: a replica of a Tillamook Medium Cheddar “Baby Loaf,” scaled up to roughly 32,000 times its normal size, that now looms outside the Americana Motor Hotel in Flagstaff.Never mind that ...
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — Route 66 has never met an oversized roadside novelty it didn’t like.
Giant jackrabbits? Check. Giant hot dogs? Check. Giant everything, really. So maybe it was only a matter of time before someone plopped down a giant block of cheese in northern Arizona.
Enter the Cheeseside Attraction: a replica of a Tillamook Medium Cheddar “Baby Loaf,” scaled up to roughly 32,000 times its normal size, that now looms outside the Americana Motor Hotel in Flagstaff.
Never mind that Tillamook is an Oregon cheese brand with no real connection to Route 66 (The highway doesn’t even pass through Oregon). Logic melted away in favor of a good bit, and the giant cheddar loaf now anchors the Route 66 Cheese Trail, a string of oversized dairy landmarks dotted along the historic highway.
The giant cheese made its official debut Saturday, complete with free samples and a limited-time menu at the hotel’s Far Out Food window.
So what’s actually going on at the hotel?
If you missed the unveiling, don’t stress because it turns out the cheese block is just the appetizer.
The full Tillamook takeover runs through September 7, and it comes with some perks:
For anyone ready to fully commit to the bit, the Americana Motor Hotel has a Tillamook-themed room available through September 7 with a two-night minimum stay required.
The room can be booked by calling the hotel directly at 928-833-3060. Sounds like a melt-worthy way to spend a weekend.
Just driving through? There’s cheese for that too
Anyone passing through Flagstaff September 4–6, between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., can swing by for free samples while supplies last.
Is a two-story block of cheddar worth an actual detour? That’s a personal call. But if you’re already cruising I-40 near Flagstaff this weekend, there’s now a giant block of cheese waiting to be photographed.
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30-year mortgage rates top 7% as Flagstaff buyers, renters face rising costs
Mason Carrollhttps://www.azfamily.com/2026/10/06/30-year-mortgage-rates-top-7-flagstaff-buyers-renters-face-rising-costs/
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — The average 30-year mortgage rate is now topping 7% nationwide, adding pressure for buyers in an already difficult housing market and affecting sellers, especially in smaller markets like Flagstaff.For Flagstaff buyers, prices and interest rates continue to rise while housing stock remains limited. Even renters are finding it harder to find affordable housing.For sellers, demand is slowing and Flagstaff is turning into a buyer’s market.Buyers and renters in Flagstaff spend 11...
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — The average 30-year mortgage rate is now topping 7% nationwide, adding pressure for buyers in an already difficult housing market and affecting sellers, especially in smaller markets like Flagstaff.
For Flagstaff buyers, prices and interest rates continue to rise while housing stock remains limited. Even renters are finding it harder to find affordable housing.
For sellers, demand is slowing and Flagstaff is turning into a buyer’s market.
Buyers and renters in Flagstaff spend 11% more on housing than those in the Phoenix metro area, according to Redfin.
It’s expensive for everyone, especially students.
“From a student perspective, I would say it is probably the hardest part about being in college,” said Jalene Perez, a Northern Arizona University senior who lives with four other roommates.
Flagstaff ranks as the third most expensive college town in the country, according to Redfin.
“I do have to work 24 to 32 hours a week just to afford to live. So it’s definitely difficult and that’s on top of school,” Perez said.
For Flagstaff homebuyers, the combination of high interest rates with low housing stock has made homeownership harder to achieve.
“We’re at about 30-year lows for transactional volume nationally, and Flagstaff is very much within that,” said Christopher Hallows, branch manager at Benchmark Mortgage.
Hallows said the good news is that high interest rates mean less competition between buyers, and they can often negotiate for more.
“You can negotiate the roof to be fixed. You can get a new water heater,” he said. “You can maybe have the seller cover your closing costs or maybe all of those. We’ve seen upwards of 5-figure type negotiations.”
Hallows said federal loans and local housing assistance programs help first-time homebuyers.
He added that getting into homeownership is a worthy investment despite the upfront costs.
“No, this is a proven concept; people love Flagstaff,” Hallows said. “So while you have to spend quite a bit of money to get in, that’s going to be a stable investment as long as you have staying power.”
Hallows said for sellers, it’s important to have realistic expectations. They’ve seen some sellers list their homes tens of thousands of dollars above what they should be, which is why homes can sit on the market for long periods.
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Air quality index (AQI⁺) and PM2.5 air pollution in Flagstaff • 22K Followers • 08:00, Oct 07 Local time
iqair.comhttps://www.iqair.com/air-quality/usa/arizona/flagstaff
AddWorld/USA/Arizona/FlagstaffAir quality in FlagstaffData attribution15 stations from 15 contributors31US AQI⁺GoodMain pollutant:PM2.55.6 µg/m³19°11 km/h47 %Hourly forecastFlagstaff air quality index (AQI⁺) forecastNow3119°11km/h 47%10:002820°13km/h 46%11:002521&de...
Add
World/USA/Arizona/Flagstaff
Air quality in Flagstaff
Data attribution
15 stations from 15 contributors
31
US AQI⁺
Good
Main pollutant:
PM2.5
5.6 µg/m³
19°
11 km/h
47 %
Hourly forecast
Flagstaff air quality index (AQI⁺) forecast
Now 31 19° 11 km/h 47% | 10:00 28 20° 13 km/h 46% | 11:00 25 21° 13 km/h 43% | 12:00 23 22° 15 km/h 39% | 13:00 21 22° 16 km/h 36% | 14:00 23 22° 14 km/h 35% | 15:00 21 22° 12 km/h 35% | 16:00 20 22° 10 km/h 35% | 17:00 17 21° 10 km/h 39% | 18:00 15 18° 9 km/h 49% | 19:00 14 17° 6 km/h 54% | 20:00 11 17° 8 km/h 59% | 21:00 11 17° 7 km/h 55% | 22:00 11 16° 8 km/h 52% | 23:00 17 16° 7 km/h 52% Thu | 00:00 17 16° 6 km/h 51% | 01:00 17 16° 6 km/h 52% | 02:00 16 15° 6 km/h 53% | 03:00 16 15° 7 km/h 53% | 04:00 16 15° 8 km/h 52% | 05:00 15 14° 9 km/h 52% | 06:00 15 14° 10 km/h 54% | 07:00 15 13° 9 km/h 60% | 08:00 13 15° 10 km/h 57% | 09:00 13 18° 14 km/h 49% | 10:00 13 19° 15 km/h 46% | 11:00 7 21° 16 km/h 43% | 12:00 7 21° 16 km/h 35% | 13:00 7 22° 15 km/h 31% | 14:00 11 22° 15 km/h 31% | 15:00 11 22° 14 km/h 29% | 16:00 11 22° 12 km/h 30% | 17:00 8 20° 10 km/h 33% | 18:00 8 18° 8 km/h 37% | 19:00 8 17° 6 km/h 40% | 20:00 7 17° 4 km/h 41% | 21:00 7 17° 1 km/h 40% | 22:00 7 17° 3 km/h 40% | 23:00 6 16° 6 km/h 44% Fri | 00:00 6 15° 7 km/h 47% | 01:00 6 14° 8 km/h 51% | 02:00 9 14° 9 km/h 57% | 03:00 9 13° 10 km/h 66% | 04:00 9 13° 10 km/h 71% | 05:00 9 13° 11 km/h 76% | 06:00 9 13° 9 km/h 47% | 07:00 9 14° 9 km/h 46% | 08:00 9 18° 7 km/h 39% | 09:00 9 20° 7 km/h 32% | 10:00 9 22° 11 km/h 26% | 11:00 6 22° 21 km/h 27% | 12:00 6 22° 24 km/h 29% | 13:00 6 22° 17 km/h 28% | 14:00 8 22° 11 km/h 28% | 15:00 8 21° 9 km/h 29% | 16:00 8 22° 9 km/h 28% | 17:00 6 20° 11 km/h 29% | 18:00 6 17° 5 km/h 43% | 19:00 6 16° 7 km/h 45% | 20:00 8 15° 9 km/h 50% | 21:00 8 16° 7 km/h 49% | 22:00 8 16° 7 km/h 47% | 23:00 6 15° 7 km/h 48% Sat | 00:00 6 14° 7 km/h 54% | 01:00 6 14° 7 km/h 55% | 02:00 10 13° 6 km/h 56% | 03:00 10 13° 5 km/h 56% | 04:00 10 13° 4 km/h 56% | 05:00 13 13° 5 km/h 55% | 06:00 13 12° 6 km/h 57% | 07:00 13 13° 7 km/h 57% | 08:00 16 16° 9 km/h 49% |
Daily forecast
Flagstaff air quality index (AQI⁺) forecast
| Today | 24 | 22° 14° | 16 km/h | 47% | |
| Thu | 13 | 22° 13° | 16 km/h | 41% | |
| Fri | 8 | 22° 13° | 24 km/h | 37% |
Air pollutants
What is the current air quality in Flagstaff?
| PM2.5Fine particles (≤ 2.5 µm)5.6µg/m³ |
| O₃Ozone56µg/m³ |
PM2.5 concentration is currently 1.1 times the World Health Organization annual PM2.5 guideline value.
Health recommendations
Enjoy outdoor activities |
Open your windows to bring clean, fresh air indoors Get a monitor |
Pollen
What is the pollen count in Flagstaff today?
Index
Moderate
Tree None | 0% |
Grass None | 0% |
Weed Moderate | 50% |
Source:
wetter.com
Pollen forecast in Flagstaff
Most polluted locations near Flagstaff
Worldwide AQI⁺ ranking
Get comprehensive data about air quality in Flagstaff
Begin your journey for cleaner air #IQAir
Flood watch issued as burn scars raise flash flood risk in northern Arizona
Mason Carrollhttps://www.azfamily.com/2026/09/29/flood-watch-issued-burn-scars-raise-flash-flood-risk-northern-arizona/
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — A flood watch is in place across most of Arizona as a storm system brings rain over two days, raising flash-flood concerns in areas with recent wildfire burn scars.Rain fell lightly in Flagstaff for most of the day before stopping. Meteorologists said everyone should be aware of the potential for flooding, especially in areas prone to flooding with recent burn scars, including the Grand Canyon.Grand Canyon flooding concerns continueFlooding has been an ongoing issue for Grand Can...
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — A flood watch is in place across most of Arizona as a storm system brings rain over two days, raising flash-flood concerns in areas with recent wildfire burn scars.
Rain fell lightly in Flagstaff for most of the day before stopping. Meteorologists said everyone should be aware of the potential for flooding, especially in areas prone to flooding with recent burn scars, including the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon flooding concerns continue
Flooding has been an ongoing issue for Grand Canyon National Park this summer. Deadly flooding last month destroyed the park’s main water line. Park employees have been working inside the canyon to build a temporary water intake facility.
Heavy rain two weeks ago damaged that new temporary system, and the number of workers inside the canyon was reduced. It was not immediately known what protocol would be in place for this storm.
Megan Taylor, warning coordinator meteorologist at NWS Flagstaff, said Northern Arizona is expected to get one to two inches of rainfall. In the Grand Canyon, where burn scars remain from the Dragon Bravo Fire, rainwater can quickly turn into flooding.
“We certainly have seen what the dangers are with flooding in Grand Canyon this year,” Taylor said. “You think maybe an inch of rain doesn’t sound like a lot, but on a recently burned area it certainly is a lot. Especially if we get widespread across that entire drainage basin, then we could certainly be seeing flooding issues.”
Taylor said people should not be hiking in any canyon right now. She said even if it is not raining in one location, rain could hit upstream and lead to flooding downstream.
Oak Creek Canyon also at risk
Oak Creek Canyon, south of Flagstaff, has been hit multiple times this summer with post-wildfire flooding tied to the Pocket Fire burn scar. Taylor said that even if the canyon does not get much rain, the creek will still be affected.
Oak Creek reopened less than two weeks ago after months of closure due to flooding from the Pocket Fire burn scar. The day before the creek was scheduled to reopen, the burn scar was hit with rain, which caused more debris, including ash and burned tree branches, to enter the water.
The creek remains open, but officials at Slide Rock are urging people not to get in the water. Taylor said the creek is likely to be impacted by this storm system. Even if the water does not rise significantly, fresh debris will enter the creek this week.
“So even at times when the creek isn’t flooding, it can still be dark and ashy,” she said. “So we’ve seen a lot of that this summer, and if we see additional flooding, that will certainly be the case. Additionally, we can get a lot of mud coming down, so once the ash comes down, we can get a lot of mud, even debris flows coming down. We can get vegetation, rocks, things like that. Lot of stuff in those floodwaters to make it very dangerous and not a safe place to be.”
Taylor said that while the monsoon is coming to an end this week, everyone should still be ready for flooding or thunderstorms to impact their area.
Rain also needed after two dry years
The rain is also considered necessary for the High Country after two consecutive dry years. At Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, tall grass and fields of wildflowers show the impact of this year’s monsoon season.
Last year’s monsoon precipitation was below average. In March, the region saw temperatures similar to July, and many places, including Flagstaff, broke heat records.
Taylor said many areas in the High Country are now above average for precipitation this summer. This storm, described as the last of the season, should put Flagstaff at or above average for the year.
“So now that we are going to see multiple rounds of rain, some of these could be heavy at times, the ground is going to start to get saturated and we’re going to start to see more of an elevated flood threat,” she said. “So flooding being the main threat here. Some areas could see flash flooding, so really quick rises in creeks and streams and rivers.”
Taylor said the region is currently in an El Niño pattern, which increases the chances for precipitation this fall and winter. She said the odds of a heavy snow year keep increasing, but that depends on temperature. El Niño means increased precipitation but does not guarantee snow specifically.
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