Arizona, 2021Wildfire in Arizona, June 18 to 30, 2021
June 18 to 30, 2021 · NWS FGZ · 3 events in 3 counties and zones
The Backbone Fire was started by lightning on June 16 at around 1130 PM and burned around 40,900 acres by the end of June. The fire was located about 2 miles 2 west of Pine, Arizona in pi on, juniper, chaparral, brush, grass, and cactus.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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 Backbone Fire was started by lightning on June 16 at around 1130 PM and burned around 40,900 acres by the end of June. The fire was located about 2 miles 2 west of Pine, Arizona in pi on, juniper, chaparral, brush, grass, and cactus. The fire burned in parts of three forecast zones.
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 18, 9:20 PM MST, 2 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 18, 9:20 PM MST, 2 hours 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
920 PM MST Fri Jun 18 2021
.SYNOPSIS...Expect near record and record heat through this
weekend, before gradually cooling into next week. Chances for
afternoon showers and thunderstorms continue on Saturday, with a
drying trend beginning Sunday and lasting through next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...The record-producing high pressure cell over the
southwestern United States will continue a slow weakening trend
and progression to the south. This is largely due to a squeeze play
developing, as northern stream energy moves into the upper Midwest
and an offshore develops west of San Francisco. This pattern will
slowly end our high-based threat by Sunday or Monday, with a very
slight decrease in temperatures.
Unfortunately, this pattern also will result in increased southwest
through westerly winds, especially in the Sunday through Tuesday
time frame. There will be heightened FWX concerns as a result.
Later next week, persistent troughing off the West Coast and the
reestablishment of a strong high pressure cell over New Mexico may
actually bring deeper moisture into Arizona, along with more
seasonable temperatures. Let us hope.
These trends are covered well by the current forecast and no short
term updates are needed.
&&
.AVIATION...For the 06Z package...Expect mainly VFR conditions for
the next 24 hours. Sfc winds light overnight, becmg NW-SW10-20g25kts
aft 18Z Saturday. Isold -SHRA/-TSRA from 19Z Sat-02Z Sun will lead
to gusty and erratic outflow winds. Areas FU from numerous wildfires
throughout the period. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Hot and mainly dry conditions will continue through
Sunday. Isolated showers and thunderstorms possible over the higher
terrain Saturday, then mainly the White Mtns on Sunday. The primary
threats being dry lightning and gusty outflow winds. Haines Indices
remain high areawide.
Monday through Wednesday...Monday and Tuesday will see temperatures
drop five degrees each day. Monday will be dry with gusty southwest
winds. There are chances for afternoon thunderstorms mostly over the
White Mountains Tuesday, then spreading north and west Wednesday.
&&
.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM MST Sunday for AZZ005-006-008-012-
013-037-038.
&&
PUBLIC...Peterson
AVIATION...Peterson
FIRE WEATHER...Kobold/Byers/Peterson
For Northern Arizona weather information visit
weather.gov/flagstaff
Wildfire, Northern Gila County
- When
- June 18, 11:30 PM MST to June 30, 11:30 PM MST
- Where
- Northern Gila County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
- Coordinates
- 33.800, -110.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Backbone Fire was started by lightning on June 16 at around 1130 PM and burned around 40,900 acres by the end of June. The fire was located about 2 miles west of Pine, Arizona in pi on, juniper, chaparral, brush, grass, and cactus. About 20 of the fire was in Gila County.
Wildfire, Yavapai County Mountains
- When
- June 18, 11:30 PM MST to June 30, 11:30 PM MST
- Where
- Yavapai County Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
- Coordinates
- 34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Backbone Fire was started by lightning on June 16 at around 1130 PM and burned around 40,900 acres by the end of June. The fire was located about 2 miles west of Pine, Arizona in pi on, juniper, chaparral, brush, grass, and cactus. About 80 percent of the fire was in Yavapai County, and 10 percent was above 5,000 feet.
Wildfire, Yavapai County Valleys and Basins
- When
- June 18, 11:30 PM MST to June 30, 11:30 PM MST
- Where
- Yavapai County Valleys and Basins forecast zone
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
- Coordinates
- 34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Backbone Fire was started by lightning on June 16 at around 1130 PM and burned around 40,900 acres by the end of June. The fire was located about 2 miles west of Pine, Arizona in pi on, juniper, chaparral, brush, grass, and cactus. About 80 percent of the fire was in Yavapai County, and 70 percent was below 5,000 feet.
- 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 Hail in Indiana, June 18 to 19, 20211 death · 1 injured · $48 million · 3.4 in hail · 66 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Ohio, June 18 to 19, 2021$1.4 million · EF2 · 61 events
- Tornado and Hail in Illinois, June 18 to 19, 2021$1.4 million · EF1 · 32 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Indiana, June 18 to 19, 2021$920,000 · EF1 · 12 events
- Tornado and Hail in Indiana, June 18, 2021EF2 · 3 events
- Tornado and Flooding in Kentucky, June 18 to 19, 2021$151,000 · EF1 · 12 events
- Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Mississippi, June 18 to 19, 2021$120,000 · EF1 · 11 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, June 18 to 19, 20214 in hail · 40 events
- Tropical Storm and Storm Surge in Louisiana, June 18 to 19, 2021$20,000 · 15 events
- Damaging Winds in Ohio, June 18, 2021$21,000 · 50 kt wind · 3 events
- Hail in Wyoming, June 18, 20211.5 in hail · 11 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Indiana, June 18, 202160 kt wind · 10 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: 968811, 968812, 968813.