The Blue Cut fire began on August 16 around 0938 PST along Interstate 15 between Blue Cut & Kenwood, Swarthout Canyon/Devore, San Bernardino County. The fire spread rapidly to the north, with much of the total acreage burned within the first couple of days.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 SGX wrote it up.
The Blue Cut fire began on August 16 around 0938 PST along Interstate 15 between Blue Cut & Kenwood, Swarthout Canyon/Devore, San Bernardino County. The fire spread rapidly to the north, with much of the total acreage burned within the first couple of days. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for over 84,000 people and 35,000 homes. Numerous road closures, including I -15 in both directions for two days, with traffic building up in both directions waiting for the interstate to reopen. The Union Pacific Railroad reported burnt trusses with railroad service stopped in both directions and won't resume until trusses are rebuilt. Numerous homes and structures destroyed (approximately 105 homes and 313 minor structures). Two firefighters sustained minor injures. Two fire engines burned over as well. The fire burned 36,274 acres before being fully contained on August 22 around 0830 PST.
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 San Diego, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 16, 8:32 AM PST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service San Diego CA
932 AM PDT TUE AUG 16 2016
.SYNOPSIS...
Warm again today, with inland temperatures still several degrees
above seasonal averages, then gradually cooler for the second
half of the workweek. Dry and breezy in the mountains and deserts
through Thursday. Along the coast, the marine layer will remain
shallow today and tomorrow before increasing slightly later in the
week for more low cloud cover during the nights and mornings.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
This morning, temps in the coastal and valley areas are several
degrees lower than this time yesterday, as low clouds and fog had
spread farther inland with more coverage than yesterday morning.
However, high temps are expected to be near or a few degrees
below yesterday.
Through Wed...The high pressure ridge over the east PAC/southwest
U.S. continues to slowly weaken as a trough of low pressure
develops over California. This will bring a gradual cooling trend
but maintain dry and breezy conditions inland away from the
influence of the marine layer. As a result, there will be little
or no threat of afternoon convection. The influence of the low
will likely also increase the depth of the marine layer, spreading
low cloud cover farther inland during the nights and mornings.
For Thu through early next week...As the pattern evolves, an upper
low develops off the coast of central/southern California. This
will keep temps near or a little below seasonal averages with
coastal low clouds during the nights and mornings. Some mid-level
moisture from the sub-tropics could reach the local mtns and
deserts on Thu and Fri, so there will be a slight chance of
afternoon convection but significant rainfall is not expected with
any cells that form.
&&
.AVIATION...
161615Z...Coast...Areas of stratus near the coast with bases around
800 ft MSL and tops to 1000 ft MSL will continue to erode through
17Z even though patchy stratus could linger near the beaches this
afternoon, mostly away from airports. Stratus will be late to
develop tonight, mostly 06Z to 10Z, with confidence of timing
rather low at KSAN and KCRQ. KSNA will most likely not have a
BKN/OVC CIG tonight. Bases will be 500-900 ft MSL with tops to 1200
ft MSL. Areas of vis at/below 1 mile will be possible 10Z-15Z Wed
over higher coastal terrain, including vcnty KCRQ, KMYF and KSDM.
Most areas should clear 15Z-17Z Wed.
Valleys/Mountains/Deserts...Unrestricted VIS and FEW-SCT midday
through early evening clouds AOA 10K ft MSL, mainly mountains,
through Wed.
&&
.MARINE...
W-NW wind gusts near 20 kt will likely occur again over the outer
waters this afternoon, with somewhat lighter winds Wednesday.
Otherwise, no hazardous marine weather is expected through
Saturday.
&&
.BEACHES...
A 3-4 ft/15-17 second southerly swell from 200 degrees arriving late
Wednesday will create elevated surf and strong rip currents along
south/southwest-facing beaches Thursday through the weekend.
Surf is expected to peak Friday, with sets to 6 ft possible. Swell
and surf will likely not lower much until next Monday.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
A Red Flag Warning for the mountains and deserts remains in
effect through 9 pm Wednesday. Minimum afternoon RH values in the
mountains and deserts will be in the single digits this afternoon
and Wednesday afternoon. Overnight recoveries will be poor. Winds
will be strongest during the afternoon and evening hours, with
gusts 30-40 mph possible along the desert slopes of the mountains
and ridge tops both today and Wednesday. Local gusts to 45 mph
will be possible along the desert slopes of the San Bernardino
County Mountains. Winds will remain breezy Thursday, but RH values
should be on the increase.
&&
.SKYWARN...
Skywarn activation is not requested. However weather spotters are
encouraged to report significant weather conditions.
&&
.SGX Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
CA...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM PDT Wednesday for Coachella Valley-
Including The Palm Springs South Coast Desert District-
Riverside County Mountains-Including The San Jacinto Ranger
District Of The San Bernardino National Forest-San
Bernardino County Mountains-Including The Mountain Top And
Front Country Ranger Districts Of The San Bernardino
National Forest-San Diego County Deserts-Including The Anza
Borrego Desert State Park-San Diego County Mountains-
Including The Palomar And Descanso Ranger Districts of the
Cleveland National Forest-San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning-
Victor Valley-Apple Valley-Lucerne Valley-Johnson Valley.
Heat Advisory until 6 PM PDT this evening for Coachella Valley-
San Diego County Deserts-San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning.
PZ...None.
&&
PUBLIC/FIRE WEATHER...PG
AVIATION/MARINE...MaxwellThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in California, August 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: 656752.