Arizona, 2020Wildfire in Arizona, June 18 to 25, 2020
June 18 to 25, 2020 · NWS FGZ · 1 event in 1 county or zone
The Bush Fire started June 13 at around 2:00 PM along Highway 87 in Maricopa County (Weather Forecast Office Phoenix's County Warning Area). The fire moved north and crossed over into WFO Flagstaff's County Warning Area on June 18 and continued moving northward between Highway 87 and 188 on June 19.
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.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $1.0 million
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 Bush Fire started June 13 at around 2:00 PM along Highway 87 in Maricopa County (Weather Forecast Office Phoenix's County Warning Area). The fire moved north and crossed over into WFO Flagstaff's County Warning Area on June 18 and continued moving northward between Highway 87 and 188 on June 19. The Bush Fire burned more than 193,400 acres total in both Maricopa and Gila counties.
What forecasters said that day
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 Jun 17, 9:16 PM MST, 5 hours 44 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 17, 9:16 PM MST, 5 hours 44 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
916 PM MST Wed Jun 17 2020
.SYNOPSIS...Expect much lighter winds after today, with near
normal temperatures through Friday. Heading into the weekend and
early next week, light winds continue, with a significant warming
trend.
&&
.UPDATE...No significant changes to the forecast this evening.
Updated weather with the latest iteration of smoke forecasts from
high resolution models to better fit satellite, radar, and
surface observations.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION /210 PM MST/...Spotty critical fire weather
conditions over Navajo and Apache counties will diminish this
evening as winds continue to decrease.
The remainder of the forecast period will feature light winds and
warmer temperatures by the weekend. A high amplitude ridge will
peak over the area early next week, bringing near record
temperatures to many locations.
There is no precipitation in the 7 day forecast and drastically
decreased impacts from wind.
&&
.AVIATION...For the 06Z package...Primarily VFR conditions are
expected over the next 24 hours, though there will be areas of smoke
from wildfires. Generally light winds overnight, with southwesterly
breezes during the daylight hours Thursday. Aviation discussion not
updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Less wind, increasing temperatures, and continued
dry conditions are expected on Thursday and Friday.
Saturday through Monday...Strong high pressure will bring hot and
dry conditions with breezy southwest winds each afternoon through
the period. A Haines Index of 6 will be common for many areas along
and north of the Mogollon Rim.
&&
.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.
&&
PUBLIC...Suk/Peterson
AVIATION...KD
FIRE WEATHER...MAS
For Northern Arizona weather information visit
weather.gov/flagstaff
Wildfire, Northern Gila County
- When
- June 18, 3:00 AM MST to June 25, 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Northern Gila County forecast zone
- Property damage
- $1.0 million
- Reported by
- NWS Storm Survey
- Coordinates
- 33.800, -110.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Bush Fire burned over 20,000 acres of ranch land (cattle grazing) in Gila County. Much of the 30 mile pipe line used for providing water to the over 300 head of cattle was burned on just one ranch. Many miles of fence posts were burned. The burned land significantly increased the treat of flash flooding in Slate Creek.
- Wildfire
- A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Damaging Winds in Ohio, June 18, 2020$115,000 · 61 kt wind · 2 events
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, June 18, 2020$50,000 · 1.75 in hail · 2 events
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Nebraska, June 18 to 20, 20201.25 in hail · 35 events
- Flash Flooding in West Virginia, June 18 to 19, 2020$41,000 · 2 events
- Lightning Strikes in New York, June 18, 2020$30,000 · 4 events
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Iowa, June 18 to 19, 202055 kt wind · 23 events
- Flood and Heavy Rain in Montana, June 18 to 20, 202018 events
- Heat in Vermont, June 18 to 23, 20208 events
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Kansas, June 18 to 19, 20201 in hail · 6 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, June 18 to 22, 20201.5 in hail · 6 events
- Hail and Heavy Rain in Colorado, June 18 to 19, 20201.75 in hail · 6 events
- Heat in New York, June 18 to 23, 20205 events
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: 895872.