7/9/14 10:30 – A moist and unstable air mass will remain in place across northern Arizona today. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop by late morning over higher terrain and will move into lower elevations this afternoon and eening. Steering winds aloft will guide most storms toward the north today. Expect daily showers and thunderstorms for much of the week with periods of locally heavy rainfall possible.
MONSOONS ALLOW USFS APACHE SITGREAVES, APACHE/NAVAJO COUNTIES TO LIFT FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Other Agencies in the Region Also Anticipated to Lift Restrictions
The return of monsoonal weather patterns have reduced the fire danger throughout the region. As a result, on Tuesday July 8 at 8:00 am the fire restrictions enacted by Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, Apache/Navajo Counties will be lifted. Similar restrictions put in place by other agencies will also be lifted at the same time. We would like to remind everyone that although fire danger is no longer extreme, it is still high and visitors and citizens should continue to be extremely cautious.
Stage I and II fire restrictions prohibited fires and campfires, smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, certain mechanical operations, motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails, and in Navajo County, the use of fireworks. These activities will no longer be under restriction as of July 8 at 8:00 am. If there are any doubts or questions please make sure to contact the agency specific to the area you plan to visit. Remember, “Know the rules where you are”.
Taking a few precautions can make all the difference:
• If you are a smoker, be cautious about how and where you extinguish your cigarettes.
• If you are using a portable stove, be careful to set up the stove in an area cleared of fuels and make sure the stove is safe from tipping over.
• Campfires should NEVER be left unattended and should be completely extinguished when leaving your campsite. Remember: “If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave!”
• Do not park or drive vehicles on top of tall dry vegetation, hot vehicle parts may still ignite a fire.
• Remember to look up, down and all around when selecting a campsite. Do NOT set up under dead or dying trees as falling limbs can become hazards, do NOT set up in dry creek beds as they can flood in moments during monsoons, and make sure the area is clear of any other potential hazards.
We welcome our citizens and visitors to enjoy the outdoors and all the activities throughout the region, but we strongly encourage everyone to please be careful. To review the Apache or Navajo County Outdoor Fire Ordinance in detail, or to review restrictions for other area agencies, visit www.311info.net. To receive emergency alerts via text from the Northeastern Public Information System (311), text: 40404, and write “follow Az311Info” in the message. (Standard text messaging rates may apply.)
Dial 911 to report smoke or wildfires.
7/7/14 2:36 pm
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ
231 PM MST MON JUL 7 2014
AZZ016-018-072200-
GILA AZ-COCONINO AZ-NAVAJO AZ-
231 PM MST MON JUL 7 2014
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FLAGSTAFF HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR…
NORTH CENTRAL GILA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ARIZONA
EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN COCONINO COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ARIZONA
SOUTHWESTERN NAVAJO COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ARIZONA
UNTIL 300 PM MST
AT 228 PM MST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ARIPINE…MOVING WEST AT 15 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM…
ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…
FOREST LAKES…
7/7/14 1:43 pm
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR…
NORTHERN GILA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ARIZONA
SOUTHERN COCONINO COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ARIZONA
SOUTHERN APACHE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ARIZONA
SOUTHERN NAVAJO COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ARIZONA
EASTERN YAVAPAI COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ARIZONA
UNTIL 230 PM MST
AT 115 PM MST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS…MOGOLLON RIM…NORTHERN GILA COUNTY…AND MOUNTAINS OF YAVAPAI COUNTY. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING SLOWLY TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST AT 5 TO 10 MPH AND MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
VERY HEAVY RAINFALL MAY CAUSE TEMPORARY PONDING ON SOME ROADS AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. IN HEAVY RAINFALL SLOW DOWN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HYDROPLANING…AND LEAVE A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOURSELF AND OTHER VEHICLES.