FORECAST: Fire danger remains elevated to start the week

It’s been a windy weekend across Arizona, and those gusty conditions have helped fuel several wildfires statewide. While winds will ease slightly heading into the new week, fire danger will remain elevated. Red Flag Warnings have been extended through Monday for eastern Coconino County and much of Navajo and Apache counties, where wind gusts could exceed 50 mph. There’s a good chance those warnings get extended into Tuesday, as a Fire Weather Watch is already in place for the same areas.

Fire danger remains elevated to start the week

By: Justin Hobbs

PHOENIX — It’s been a windy weekend across Arizona, and those gusty conditions have helped fuel several wildfires statewide. While winds will ease slightly heading into the new week, fire danger will remain elevated.

Red Flag Warnings have been extended through Monday for eastern Coconino County and much of Navajo and Apache counties, where wind gusts could exceed 50 mph. There’s a good chance those warnings get extended into Tuesday, as a Fire Weather Watch is already in place for the same areas.

Because of the high fire risk, outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Avoid tossing cigarettes from vehicles, and make sure nothing is dragging from your car that could create sparks.

These windy conditions are being driven by an area of low pressure digging into the western U.S. That system will stick around through midweek before lifting out, allowing a ridge of high pressure to build in from the south later in the week.

Until then, temperatures will stay slightly below average, with Valley highs in the lower triple digits. By next weekend, the heat starts to build back in. Highs around the Fourth of July will be near 107 degrees, climbing back to around 110 by Sunday.