**Update – NWS has upgraded the Fire Weather Watch and issued a Red Flag Warning for Tuesday 3/22/16**

03/21/16 – The National Weather Service has advised that a strong upper level low pressure system and cold front are forecast to approach northern Arizona from the northwest today. Southwest winds will increase this afternoon primarily over west central and northwest Arizona with afternoon wind gusts from 20 to 40 MPH.

On Tuesday the strong upper level low pressure system and cold front are forecast to move across northern Arizona bringing windy and dry conditions out ahead of the cold front. Southwest winds from 20 to 35 MPH with gusts from 25 to 55 MPH are forecast for late Tuesday morning into early Tuesday evening from the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains northward. A few wind gusts up to 60 MPH are possible over portions of the Little Colorado River Valley.

In addition strong winds combined with low relative humidity values has prompted a Fire Weather Watch for Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for portions of the Little Colorado and Chinle Valleys and Chuska Mountains.