8/11/14 – Shower and thunderstorm coverage will decrease overnight tonight becoming more isolated to widely scattered. Tuesday a deep tropical moisture and southerly flow will combine to produce widespread rainfall on tuesday and wednesday. Areas of moderate to briefly heavy rain will be possible although the chance for severe thunderstorms containing large hail and high wind will be greatly diminished. There will be an elevated risk for flodding on Tuesday and wednesday due to the prolonged nature of this rainfall event along with widespread rain showers and saturated ground conditions. Drier conditions will begin to work back ito the area friday with a sharp downard trend in precipitation on Saturday and Sunday.

Join Smokey and his friends for a birthday celebration!

Saturday, August 9, 2014
11:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Bashas in Eagar, Arizona

Most of us are thinking about retirement at 70, if we haven’t already retired, but Smokey Bear is still going strong!

Smokey first appeared as the mascot of the U.S. Forest Service on Aug. 9, 1944, and will celebrate his 70th birthday locally this Saturday at the Eagar Gazebo next to Bashas at 150 N Main, Eagar, AZ.

“Only you can prevent forest fires!” was Smokey’s slogan for more than 50 years, until “forest fires” was changed to “wildfires” in 2001 to recognize that many resources are damaged by fire every year. The campaign remains one of the most widely recognized in the United States.

Smokey and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Supervisor’s Office and Springerville Ranger District employees will be on hand for photos and handing out Smokey memorabilia from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

To take the Smokey Bear pledge and join in the campaign, go to http://www.smokeybear.com/ for more information.

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.