It was ONLY a matter of TIME!

[Aslkahuna]

after looking at the models again for my forecast update, the outlook for the next 7 days is for breezy to windy conditions in AZ. The strongest winds seem to close to the 582 Dm Contour which drops through AZ this weekend with Friday and Saturday the windiest days with gusts over 40mph possible down here and gusts over 50mph possible in the mountains. The winds will be down Sunday but will pick up again Monday and then shift northward into Northern and Central AZ. By Thursday, the strongest gradient is expected to be over NW AZ with highs approaching 100F in Tucson. Wind maxima imbedded in the flow will result in periods of elevated winds from time to time. Very low humidities will be present and Red Flag Warnings are out for tomorrow and Saturday. We saw some smoke to the distant SE this afternoon while the dog was walking me. Satellite imagery shows a fire in the Sierra Madre about 30 SSE of Cannanea, Sonora.

Steve

[azsnowman]

We had 2 MORE starts YESTERDAY ALONE WTH gives? Is this arsonist TRYING to burn us OUT?

We have a Red Flag Warning/Wind Advisory posted again like Steve said, I'm tellin' ya folks, this wind is REALLY getting OLD


Fire Weather Forecast for Friday - May 21, 2004


...RED FLAG WARNING FRIDAY FOR SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA AND THE NORTHERN HALF OF NEW MEXICO BELOW 9,000 FEET...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FRIDAY FOR MUCH OF ARIZONA, MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND NORTHWEST TEXAS...

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUING INTO SATURDAY FOR PARTS OF THE REGION...

SYNOPSIS: A critical fire weather pattern continues to take shape and is poised to affect much of the southwest Geographic area with strong winds and low humidity values through Saturday. The region will be under a moderate to strong southwest to west flow aloft through this time period due to a strong pressure gradient between a southern plains ridge of high pressure and an area of low pressure presently over the western Great Basin. On Friday this area of low pressure will begin to move slolwy northeastward with strong upper level southwesterly flow expected over the entire region. Some high clouds could temper the winds some from western into central areas of Arizona by the afternoon hours, but strong unidirectional winds through a deep layer of the atmosphere will likely overcome this to bring strong to very strong winds throughout the region. On Saturday, the lingering trough of low pressure will surge quickly eastward over the region during the day causing winds to shift to more of a westerly direction while remaining strong. Areas further east....much of central New Mexico into eastern New Mexico and west Texas will likely see critical fire weather conditions on Saturday with an increasing downslope component being a factor in west Texas. Sunday will continue breezy as a moderate southwesterly flow aloft takes residence over the region. Expect very low relative humidities throughout this time period with some very frequent wind gusts. A heightened sense of situational awareness is stressed for the entire southwest Geographic region over the next few days as windy to very windy conditions will remain prevalent.