The Bonito Rock Fire burned through 1,688 acres by the end of April in an area 15 miles southeast of Whiteriver, Arizona. At least 173 personnel were involved with the fire fighting effort.
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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 Bonito Rock Fire burned through 1,688 acres by the end of April in an area 15 miles southeast of Whiteriver, Arizona. At least 173 personnel were involved with the fire fighting effort. The fuels involved were primarily timber (litter and understory), timber (grass and understory), and brush (2 feet).
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 Apr 18, 9:24 PM MST, 2 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 924 PM MST Sun Apr 18 2021 .SYNOPSIS...Warmer and drier weather will return Monday through mid week with windy conditions by Wednesday. A brief unsettled period possible Thursday into Friday before warmer weather returns for the weekend. && .DISCUSSION...The shower threat has largely diminished this evening as the upper level low pushes to the southeast. Expect chilly temperatures overnight with a very dry airmass in place, clear skies, and weakening northeast winds. The current forecast handles this well and no updates are needed. && .PREV DISCUSSION /212 PM MST/...The upper low is now centered over south central Arizona. Widespread showers with a few thunderstorms have developed from the eastern portion of the Mogollon Rim down into the White Mountains. Snow levels have been down to near 7000 feet at times in the White Mountains, with accumulating snow above about 8000 feet. Nutrioso reported around 3" of snow earlier this morning. This shower activity will continue for the rest of the afternoon, and then become limited to mainly just the White Mountains southeast of Show Low by early evening before ending overnight. Could see a few more inches of snow above 8000 feet in some locations, affecting the highest portion of SR 260 between McNary and Springerville, and also US 191/180 from near Alpine to Nutrioso. Be ready for some snow covered roads if heading through that area. Otherwise, breezy northeast winds this afternoon will gradually decrease tonight, with cold overnight lows. Starting Monday - high pressure will build over the region with dry and warmer weather through Wednesday. A weak shortwave passing north of the state will bring breezy west winds to northeast Arizona Monday afternoon. Breezy southwest winds persist Tuesday, then downright windy weather develops Wednesday as a stronger trough approaches from the northwest. Wind gusts on Wednesday afternoon are currently forecast to be in the 30-45 mph range for the region, with the highest gusts likely along/north of the Mogollon Rim. With RH values falling into the single digits, there will be a risk of critical fire weather conditions. Thursday through Friday - a secondary trough is forecast to move through the state, with some uncertainty in the timing of the system. The most likely outcome will be some cooler temperatures back down closer to normal. There is just a slight chance of showers through this period. By the weekend - most of the forecast guidance points toward a building ridge over the southwest, with dry and warmer weather. && .AVIATION...For the 06z package...VFR conditions will prevail for the next 24 hours. Locally gusty northeast winds will gradually weaken overnight. West winds will develop Monday afternoon with sustained speeds of 10-15 kts and gusts 20-25 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...A stretch of dry weather and warming temperatures begins on Monday. Westerly winds pick up in the afternoon Monday, but remain the strongest near the Utah/Arizona border. Winds remain breezy and shift southwesterly on Tuesday. Wednesday through Friday...Gradual warming and dry weather continues through the week. Winds increase on Wednesday out of the southwest around 20 to 30 mph, which combined with very dry conditions will lead to the potential for critical fire weather conditions. Breezy southwest winds look to remain on Thursday, becoming westerly on Friday. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && PUBLIC...TPS/JJ AVIATION...TPS FIRE WEATHER...Humphreys 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 Bonito Rock burned through approximately 1,688 acres in southern Apache County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, April 2021
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: 952188.