8/2/14  @ 8:45

News from the National Weather Service, Flagstaff: Flash Flood Watch

PRIMARY IMPACTS and TIMING:

A low pressure system will move into northern Arizona later this afternoon enhancing shower and thunderstorm activity through the afternoon and overnight hours. Wind flow will be light and heavy rain from storms that develop will tend to move slowly across the landscape. The combination of these weather factors will increase the risk for flash flooding across the state and a flash flood watch has been issued as a result. We have a high degree of confidence in the timing of the excessive rainfall threat which may lead to flash flooding. Flash flood location impacts may vary due to typical uncertainties in the smaller scale thunderstorm development.

Saturday and Sunday:

Deep tropical moisture and instability are spread across Arizona today, while a seasonably strong low pressure system over Baja and large trough extending east to El Paso Texas moves slowly northward into Arizona. This low pressure system will be the spark to the fuel of the atmospheric instability, and enhance shower and thunderstorm development through the afternoon and overnight hours.

7/29/14 @ 10:44 AM

The Sycamore Fire  has increased to approximately 3500 acres. The fire is burning on the forest floor and what is dead and down. The fire is moving south, staying on the ground with no crowning at this time. Monitoring continues with daily aerial flights of the Sycamore Fire located near Bear Valley (Township  N, Range 31 E, Section 15) within the Blue Primitive Area.  The fire is located on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ (ASNFs) Clifton Ranger District.

7/2/14 @ Noon

The black lines on the right of the map show containment. The red lines indicate the  fire lines.