Arizona, 2020

Wildfire in Arizona, June 5 to 24, 2020

June 5 to 24, 2020 · NWS TWC · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Lightning started the Dry Lake Fire on San Carlos Apache Tribe lands in Graham County on June 5th. The fire was spread rapidly by strong winds and consumed 4369 acres before becoming fully contained June 24th.

Where it happened

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS TWC wrote it up.

Lightning started the Dry Lake Fire on San Carlos Apache Tribe lands in Graham County on June 5th. The fire was spread rapidly by strong winds and consumed 4369 acres before becoming fully contained June 24th. Fire suppression costs were estimated at $100,000.

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 Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 5, 2:12 PM MST, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 5, 2:12 PM MST, 1 hour 48 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
212 PM MST Fri Jun 5 2020

.SYNOPSIS...A passing weather system will bring isolated to
scattered showers and thunderstorms through this evening.
Thereafter, dry conditions will prevail with temperatures trending a
few degrees below normal this weekend through the middle portions of
next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...A weather system passing through the region today and
tonight will continue to aid in the development of scattered showers
and a few thunderstorms. The best chance of measurable rain will be
east of Tucson through this evening. Otherwise, the passage of this
system will mark the transition to a cooler weather regime for this
weekend into the middle of next week. This cooler pattern will be
temporary as models showed a return to hotter conditions, similar to
this past week, by Thursday.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 07/00Z.
SCT-BKN clouds 12-15k ft MSL and SCT-BKN 20-25k ft MSL. Isold to sct
-TSRA will be possible mainly east of KTUS and KOLS this afternoon
through tonight. Main threats with any storm will be gusty outflow
winds and lightning. Otherwise, surface wind southwest at 12-18 kts
with gusts to 25 kts this afternoon becoming variable in direction
less than 10 kts overnight. Winds increase again Saturday afternoon
out of the southwest 10-15 kts with gusts to 20-22 kts. Aviation
discussion not updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms mainly north to
east of Tucson through tonight. Strong and erratic winds are
possible with any thunderstorm and any rains will be on the light
side. Gusty southwest wind expected this afternoon with local and
brief critical fire weather conditions possible far western zone 150
(west of Sells) where winds should be the strongest. Not enough area
or duration expected at this time for a red flag warning.

Otherwise, dry conditions into next Thursday with cooler than normal
temperatures Saturday through Tuesday. Some elevated/gusty southwest
to west winds will occur during the afternoons Saturday into Monday.
Saturday the winds may be strong enough for local and brief critical
fire weather conditions in far southeast Cochise County and northern
Greenlee County. Also, some thunderstorms are possible again far
eastern areas late next week.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
    Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM MST this evening for AZZ504-
    507>509.

&&

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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties

When
June 5, 4:00 PM MST to June 24, 12:00 PM MST
Where
White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
33.074, -109.563 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning started the Dry Lake Fire on San Carlos Apache Tribe lands 22 miles northeast of Bylas on June 5th. The fire was spread rapidly by strong winds and consumed 4369 acres before becoming fully contained June 24th.

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, June 2020

Sources

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: 907531.