The Bert Fire was started by lighting on May 29 near Highway 180 about 10 miles southeast of Valle. This natural fire was allowed to burn in a fire adapted ecosystem.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.
The Bert Fire was started by lighting on May 29 near Highway 180 about 10 miles southeast of Valle. This natural fire was allowed to burn in a fire adapted ecosystem. The fire reached about 200 acres by the end of May and a total of 6000 acres by June 27.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Flagstaff, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 31, 9:37 PM MST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 937 PM MST TUE MAY 31 2016 .SYNOPSIS...A low pressure system moving through the Southwest Region will continue to produce a few high based showers and isolated thunderstorms over the mountain regions of northern Arizona. A high pressure ridge will move in from the West on Wednesday with weather conditions trending towards a drier and warmer forecast through Thursday. Much warmer weather will continue from Thursday through the weekend, with summer-like temperatures running 10 to 15 degrees above normal for this time of the year. Strong and gusty southwesterly winds return on Monday as a weak low moves into Nevada. && .UPDATE... No significant changes to the update this evening as the current forecast appears on track. Some lingering showers will keep a slight chance of precipitation mainly along the Mogollon Rim. Expect drying and warming conditions to begin tomorrow and develop through the remainder of the week. && .PREV DISCUSSION /307 PM MST/...A weak upper level low will keep low chances for a few high based showers and thunderstorms in our northern Arizona forecast through Wednesday afternoon. High based showers may lead to erratic gusty surface winds in the afternoon near thunderstorms. On Wednesday, a high pressure ridge will move into Arizona from the West starting a drying and warming trend. Thursday through Sunday...Expect a drier weather pattern summer- like temperatures running 10 to 15 degrees above normal for this time of the year. These hot afternoon temperatures along with dry moisture levels in the lower atmosphere will create very unstable conditions each day. Winds will be light northerlies through Saturday, then switching back to southwesterly on Sunday as the ridge drifts east and another weak low moves into southern California. Monday and Tuesday...Stronger gusty southwesterly winds, above normal temperatures and dry humidity levels are forecast for this period as a weak low passes eastward through Nevada and Utah. && .AVIATION...For the 00Z Package...Look for isolated high-based showers and thunderstorms mainly southeast of a Payson to Window Rock line. Activity will diminish after 02z. Another round of high- based storms is in store for Wednesday along and south of a Flagstaff to Window Rock line. Erratic surface wind gusts to 35 knots are possible in the vicinity of storms or showers. Otherwise, light surface winds. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Low pressure will move into northern Mexico on Wednesday with just enough lingering moisture for high-based storms and showers primarily over far eastern Arizona. Gusty outflow winds should be expected from thunderstorms. For Thursday, high pressure will begin to build into Arizona from the west and thus a period of warmer temperatures and drier conditions will start. Friday through Sunday...High pressure will continue to build. Daytime temperatures will climb to the hottest so far this year. Relative humidity values are likely to drop into the single digit range each afternoon. Winds will remain light through a deep layer on Friday and Saturday but strengthen and become more southwesterly on Sunday. Gusty southwest winds are possible next Monday with warm and dry conditions remaining in place. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && PUBLIC...Suk/Bohlin AVIATION...Suk FIRE WEATHER...Suk For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The Bert Fire was started by lighting on May 29 near Highway 180 about 10 miles southeast of Valle. This natural fire was allowed to burn in a fire adapted ecosystem. The fire burned about 5800 acres in June and bout 200 acres in May.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, June 2016
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 632657.