Arizona, 2020Wildfire in Arizona, September 23 to 30, 2020
September 23 to 30, 2020 · NWS TWC · 1 event in 1 county or zone
The Cow Canyon Fire was ignited by lightning on August 18th southeast of Blue in Greenlee County. The fire grew only minimally for several weeks until hot, dry and breezy conditions caused more rapid growth toward the end of September.
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- 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.
The Cow Canyon Fire was ignited by lightning on August 18th southeast of Blue in Greenlee County. The fire grew only minimally for several weeks until hot, dry and breezy conditions caused more rapid growth toward the end of September. By the end of the month the fire had consumed 1500 acres.
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 Sep 23, 2:59 PM MST, 1 minute earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 23, 2:59 PM MST, 1 minute before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
Issued by National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
259 PM MST Wed Sep 23 2020
SYNOPSIS...High temperatures will remain several degrees above
normal into the weekend, climbing to near record levels early next
week. A chance for a shower or thunderstorm exists over the White
and Chiricahua Mountains becoming dry thereafter.
&&
.DISCUSSION...Radar depicts a few light returns in the higher
terrain northeast of Safford, gradually moving toward the
south/southwest. These showers are being assisted by a weak
shortwave trough, but meager atmospheric moisture is preventing any
noteworthy development. Elsewhere, just some puffs of fair-weather
cumulus amidst slightly less hazy skies. It’s hot again. No surprise
there. The mid-level high is stationed just off the Southern
California coastline ushering northerly flow across the region. High
temperatures are several degrees above normal and dare I say this is
the “cool” portion of the week.
As a broad trough pushes through the northwestern U.S., the ridge
will elongate and strengthen over Arizona producing a few extra
degrees of heat. This puts an end to any shower activity and the dry
forecast persists from here on out. The pattern adjusts over the
weekend as the trough slides east and a strong expansive high builds
over the western CONUS. Arizona will be under the southeastern ridge
axis. High temperatures on Monday and Tuesday should make a run at
record heat, with many lower desert locations forecast to hit near
105.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 24/12Z.
FEW-SCT clouds at 12-16k ft MSL, dissipating during the evening.
ISOLD SHRA and a slight chance of an embedded TSRA this afternoon
mainly for the White and Chiricahua Mountains. Surface winds are
generally variable and less than 10 kts through the forecast period.
Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...This afternoon presents the last chance for rainfall
during this forecast period, mainly focused on the White and
Chiricahua Mountains. Temperatures remain warmer then normal
throughout, with the hottest days likely occurring on Monday and
Tuesday with near record highs expected. 20-ft winds are mostly
light following typical diurnal trends.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&
Discussion...Howlett
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at
weather.gov/Tucson
Wildfire, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties
- When
- September 23, 3:00 PM MST to September 30, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties forecast zone
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
- Coordinates
- 33.074, -109.563 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Cow Canyon Fire was ignited by lightning on August 18th southeast of Blue in Greenlee County. The fire grew only minimally for several weeks until hot, dry and breezy conditions caused more rapid growth toward the end of September. By the end of the month the fire had consumed 1500 acres.
- 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.
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Mississippi, September 23 to 24, 2020$256,000 · 50 kt wind · 9 events
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Arkansas, September 23, 2020$26,000 · 3 events
- Coastal Flood in Puerto Rico, September 23 to 25, 20203 events
- Heavy Rain in Oregon, September 23 to 25, 20203 events
- Hail in Minnesota, September 23, 20201 in hail · 3 events
- Flash Flooding in Texas, September 23, 20202 events
- Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Arkansas, September 23, 20202 events
- Waterspouts in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, September 23, 20202 events
- Heavy Rain in Washington, September 23 to 25, 20202 events
- Heavy Rain in Hawaii, September 23, 20202 events
- Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, September 23, 202052 kt wind · 2 events
- Coastal Flood in New Hampshire, September 23, 2020$5,000 · 1 event
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: 922353.